Water Rail

Breeding: Breeds in Western and Central Europe from late March to August. Usually produces two hatches. The birds are monogamous and very territorial during breeding. A quite large cup-shaped nest of dead leaves and plant stems is built by both members of the pair. It is most often found in dense reed or bulrush vegetation near water, less often on a tree stump or in an open area. The hatch consists of 6-11 eggs, laying an egg per day. If an egg is lost, the laying continues. Incubation lasts 19-22 days and both parents participate in this process.

Appearance: Easily distinguished from other birds of the rail family by its long, slightly downward-curving red beak and rather long neck. The back of the bird is greenish-brown with black spots, the head and neck are dark bluish-grey. The belly and sides of the body have white and black bars, and the undertail coverts are yellowish. The young have a whitish throat and chest, a brownish beak, and brownish bars on the sides of the body and belly.