Birds and wildlife

Corncrake

Crex crexGroup: Rails, crakes and cootsUK Conservation status:Red

How to identify

Corncrakes are related to waterbirds Moorhens, Coots and Water Rails but, unlike their family members, they live on dry land. Corncrakes are surprisingly small – only a little bigger than a Blackbird. This Schedule 1 species is very secretive, spending most of its time hidden in tall grass or reedbeds, you'll probably hear its rasping call before you see it.

Call

Corncrake

Mathias Ritschard / xeno-canto

Key

  1. Resident
  2. Passage
  3. Summer
  4. Winter
* This map is intended as a guide. It shows general distribution rather than detailed, localised populations.
  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
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  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

Where best to see them

Key facts