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Overview
Brown crake

Brown crake

Wikipedia

The brown crake, or brown bush-hen, is a waterbird in the rail and crake family (Rallidae) found in South Asia. The species name, akool, is of uncertain origin. It may come from Hindu mythology, or it may be a derivation of the Sinhalese word kukkula, which is used for both moorhen and watercock.

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Distribution

Region

South Asia and mainland Southeast Asia

Typical Environment

Occurs widely across the Indian Subcontinent, including India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and parts of Pakistan, and extends east through Myanmar into Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, and southern China. It favors lowland wetlands with dense cover such as marshes, reedbeds, rice fields, pond margins, and vegetated canals. Birds are often close to human-modified landscapes, especially irrigated fields and village tanks. It keeps to concealment and often stays near the water’s edge within thick emergent vegetation.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 1800 m

Climate Zone

Tropical

Characteristics

Size25–30 cm
Wing Span40–50 cm
Male Weight0.18 kg
Female Weight0.16 kg
Life Expectancy6 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 2/5

Useful to know

Also called the brown bush-hen, this secretive rail slips through dense marsh vegetation and often reveals itself by flicking its tail to show white undertail coverts. The specific name “akool” has an uncertain origin, possibly from Hindu mythology or derived from the Sinhalese word for moorhen/watercock. It is most active at dawn and dusk and is frequently encountered around rice paddies and village wetlands. Its grating calls carry far through reedbeds after sunset.

Gallery

Bird photo
Bird photo

Behaviour

Temperament

secretive and skulking

Flight Pattern

short rapid wingbeats with legs trailing; reluctant flier

Social Behavior

Typically seen singly or in pairs, sometimes in small family groups after breeding. Nests are placed low in dense marsh vegetation over or near water, constructed from reeds and grasses. Clutches usually contain several eggs, and both parents share incubation and chick-rearing. Birds slip quietly through cover, rarely venturing into the open for long.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

Vocalizations include harsh, grating kek-kek or krak-krak series and squeals, often delivered at dusk or night. Calls can be far-carrying and are a key way to detect the species in dense habitat.

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