Baillon's Crake
Seen one? Add it to your free UK BirdedexHear its song and see the mapFree, no app download. Epic bird: +20 points when you log it.
Habitat and behaviour
Habitat: Wet marsh, sedges (very rare).
Diet: Insects, seeds.
Best time to spot: Tiny crake; has bred; frog-like rattle.
When to look
A rare visitor, not a resident. There is no dependable season, though most rarities are found during spring and autumn migration. More on the season in Rare birds in the UK.
How rare is it?
The Baillon's Crake sits in our Epic tier for the UK: a scarce visitor, recorded in small numbers in most years. It is not on the Red or Amber lists in Birds of Conservation Concern 5.
Recent UK sightings
No community sightings logged for this species yet. Log the first one.
Similar birds
- Little CrakeLegendary · Marshes (very rare)
- Northern HarrierLegendary · Marsh (very rare)
- Pallas's BuntingLegendary · Marsh scrub (very rare)
- Aquatic WarblerEpic · Sedge marsh (rare passage)
- Baikal TealEpic · Marshes (very rare)
- Black DuckEpic · Marshes (very rare vagrant)
Kit that helps
Best spotting scopes for UK birding. Affiliate links, our own picks, no extra cost to you.
Log a Baillon's Crake in your free UK Birdedex