Slaty-legged Crake

This species is defined as a Review Species . Please submit your records of this species via our record submission page .

Scientific Name: Rallina eurizonoides

Malay Name: Sintar-Merah Kaki Kelabu

Chinese Name: 白喉斑秧鸡

Range: Found from Pakistan, India, Southern China to Japan and also in the Philippines. Some populations winter to mainland Southeast Asia, Sumatra and Java.

Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: amauroptera, telmatophila, sepiaria, alvarezi, formosana, eurizonoides, minahasa.

Local Subspecies: telmatophila

Size: 26-28 cm

Identification: Resembles Red-legged Crake but is larger and considerably larger-billed, has duller brown upperparts (except head and neck), more rufous-chestnut head, neck and breast, whitish throat that contrasts sharply with head-sides and dark slaty-grey legs. Juvenile resembles adult but has paler brown upperparts, head, neck and breast.

Similar looking species: Red-legged Crake

Habitat: Streams and wet areas in forest and also freshwater wetlands and gardens on passage.

Behaviour/Ecology: Often calls at night.

Local Status: Very rare migrant

Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2020)

Featured reports: Dec 2022

Past records in our database:

Showing only accepted records. Note that records currently under review are also not displayed, and the list may not be a full list of records of this species in Singapore. For more details, check the database here.

Migrant bar chart (see more bar charts):

Slaty-legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides
Average number of individuals by week based on Singapore Bird Database data, Jul 2013 to Jun 2023 (all records)
Peak weeks Jan 01-Jan 07, Nov 19-Nov 25, Dec 03-Dec 09 (2 more)
Early date 21 Nov 2020
Late date 16 Apr 1989
A rare migrant crake, possibly overlooked due to its secretive habits.
Juvenile Slaty-legged Crake at Jurong Island on 21 Nov 2015. Photo Credit: Lim Kim Chuah
Juvenile Slaty-legged Crake at Kaeng Krachan National Park. Photo credits: Johnson Sia aka Mahi Mahi
Adult Slaty-legged Crake at Kaeng Krachan National Park. Photo credits: Johnson Sia aka Mahi Mahi
Slaty-legged Crake at Haig Court condominium. Photo credit: Goh Cheng Teng

External Links:

Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page

Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link

Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link

eBird Species page: eBird (Slaty-legged Crake)

References:

BirdLife International. (2020). Rallina eurizonoides. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T22692317A181757127.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023

Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Slaty-legged Crake. Retrieved on April 30, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/slaty-legged-crake.

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