Baillon's Crake

Porzana pusilla (Pallas, 1776)

2010-06-14 Ishimsky District, Oktyabrsky, lake Krutoe	© Eugeny Bayanov

Description

Male Baillon's Crake in breeding plumage is olive-brownish above with black core-spots of feathers, more large on the middle of mantle and on shoulders. Some feathers of mantle are white-mottled. The neck-flanks and craw-flanks are buffy-brownish. Supercilium, head-flanks, throat, body-flanks and undertail are dark-grey or brownish white-barred. Flight feathers are brownish, outer web of the first flight feather is white. Upper wing coverts are plain olive-brown with pale tips. Under wing coverts are brownish white-mottled. Tail feathers are dark-brownish pale-tipped. Legs are olive-brownish. Bill is dark-olive with greenish base of low mandible. Eyes are dark-red. Female is similar on male but with pale-grey underparts and whitish throat. Juveniles is similar on adults above. Head-flanks, supercilium and ear are buffy-brownish; throat, breast and belly are off-white; craw-flanks and breast are buffy-brown tinged and cross bars. Sizes: wing 80-98 mm, bill 14-18 mm, tarsus 25-32 mm. Weight about 60 gr.

References