Black Crake wading in water in Kruger National Park, Limpopo Province, South Africa
The black crake (Amaurornis flavirostra) is a waterbird in the rail and crake family Rallidae. It breeds in most of sub-Saharan Africa except in very arid areas. It undertakes some seasonal movements in those parts of its range which are subject to drought. No subspecies have been described. The black crake is diurnal, and this confiding bird will feed close to humans and often in the open. It eats a wide range of invertebrates, small fish, frogs and seeds. It will take the eggs of birds and scavenge on carcasses. It will forage on the ground or climb reeds to find prey including flying insects. This species will perch on hippopotamuses and warthogs and remove parasites. The adult black crake is 19–23 cm (– in) long with a short tail and long toes. As its name implies, the adult has mainly black plumage, with a brown olive tone on the wings and upperparts which is rarely detectable in the field. The eye is red, the bill is yellow (hence the flavirostra of the binomial name), and the legs and feet are red, duller when not breeding. The sexes are similar, but the male is slightly larger. Most males, but only 10% of females, have a hooked upper mandible. The immature bird has brown upperparts and a dark grey head and underparts. Its bill is greenish yellow, and its feet and legs are dull red. The downy chicks are black, as with all rails. The main call of the black crake is a duet, starting with a throaty chattering krrrok-kraaaa. The response is a dove-like cooing coo-crr-COO.
Size: 4208px × 2882px
Location: Kruger National Park, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Photo credit: © Hein Von Hörsten / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: africa, animalia, bill, bird, black, chordata, color, crake, eye, fish, horizontal, hunting, image, kruger, longs, national, nature, outdoor, park, plumage, red, short, south, tail, toes, wading, water, wildlife, yellow
