Black Crake
[Amaurornis flavirostra]
The Black Crake is a bird that is 19 to 23 cm long with a short tail and long toes. It has mainly black plumage. The eye is red, the bill is yellow, and the legs and feet are red, but they are duller when not breeding. The male is slightly larger than the female. Most males, and 10% of females have a hooked upper mandible. Immature birds have brown upper parts and a dark grey head and underparts. Downy chicks are black.
Location: Animals Formerly at Zoo
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Range
The range of the black crake is Sub-Saharan Africa.
Habitat
Black crakes inhabit freshwater marshy areas and swamps, needing water and vegetation for cover.
Conservation Status
Least ConcernPrimary Threats
Gestation
Black crakes incubate their eggs for 13-19 days.
Litter
Clutch size: 2-6 eggs, but usually 3
Behavior
The black crake has movements that are typically rail-like. The carriage is upright with the head bobbing and the short tail flirting constantly as the bird walks. It walks on floating vegetation in the manner of lily trotters and jacanas. It emerges from cover to secure food from the water surface, leaves of aquatic plants, and from mud. It frequently perches on hippos and warthogs and gleans their ectoparasites. It is a good swimmer and dives to avoid danger in the water or, if found on land, will fly to a high bush or dive for cover into reeds or tall grass. It can also "freeze" in defense.
Reproduction
The nest of the black crake is built as a deep cup made of reeds, rushes, sedges or grasses. It is located in vegetation just at or above water level. In some portions of the range where flooding is frequent, the nest is built high above the water level. Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the young. There are frequently 2 broods a year. The first brood stays with the parents for 6 weeks after hatching, and the second stays 8 weeks.
Wild Diet
Worms, mollusks, crustaceans, insects, small fish, small frogs and tadpoles