The corn crake, corncrake or landrail is a bird in the rail family. It breeds in Europe and Asia as far east as western China, and migrates to Africa for the Northern Hemisphere's winter. It is a medium-sized crake with buff- or grey-streaked brownish-black upperparts, chestnut markings on the wings, and blue-grey underparts with rust-coloured and white bars on the flanks and undertail. The strong bill is flesh-toned, the iris is pale brown, and the legs and feet are pale grey. Juveniles are similar in plumage to adults, and downy chicks are black, as with all rails. There are no subspecies, although individuals from the east of the breeding range tend to be slightly paler than their western counterparts. The male's call is a loud krek krek, from which the scientific name is derived. The corn crake is larger than its closest relative, the African crake, which shares its wintering range; that species is also darker-plumaged, and has a plainer face.
Region
Europe, Western Asia and sub-Saharan Africa
Typical Environment
Breeds across temperate grasslands and hay meadows from Ireland and the UK through much of Europe into Western Siberia and western China. Prefers tall herbaceous cover such as unmown meadows, cereal fields, and rough grass with scattered forbs, often near damp ground. Winters in sub-Saharan Africa in tall grasslands, savannas, and rank vegetation along floodplains. Avoids short-grazed swards and extensive woodlands, relying on dense cover to remain concealed. Uses agricultural landscapes where traditional, late-season mowing persists.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2000 m
Climate Zone
Other
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Corn crakes are famously secretive but their repetitive krek krek call carries far on summer nights. Modern hay-cutting schedules threaten nests, so conservation measures include delaying mowing and cutting from the field center outward to allow escape. They nest on the ground in dense vegetation and can raise two broods in a season. Despite being hard to see, they migrate long distances between Eurasian breeding grounds and sub-Saharan Africa.
Hayfields are the preferred nesting habitat.
Adults and young
Adult corn crake camouflaged in a field (Russia, 2006)
Painting of an egg
Collection of eggs in Museum Wiesbaden
The white stork will feed on corncrake chicks exposed by early mowing.
Mrs Beeton's recipe
Land rail, by Thomas Bewick
Temperament
secretive and skulking
Flight Pattern
short rapid wingbeats, low and fluttering; strong on long-distance migration
Social Behavior
Generally solitary and highly secretive in dense vegetation during the breeding season. Males call persistently at night to attract females and defend loose territories. Nests are shallow cups on the ground in tall grass; the female incubates and tends the young, which leave the nest soon after hatching. Outside breeding, individuals may occur loosely in the same feeding areas but do not form tight flocks.
Migratory Pattern
Seasonal migrant
Song Description
A loud, mechanical krek krek repeated in steady series, often delivered at night from within cover. The call can continue for long periods and carries over considerable distance, making the bird easier to hear than see.
Plumage
Upperparts streaked buff and brownish-black with a mottled, barred appearance; blue-grey wash on face and underparts. Chestnut patches on the wings, with rust-coloured and white barring on flanks and undertail. Feathers appear soft and well-camouflaged for grassland cover.
Diet
Takes a wide range of invertebrates including beetles, grasshoppers, caterpillars, spiders, snails, slugs, and earthworms. Also eats seeds, grains, and green plant matter, especially later in the season. Occasionally consumes small amphibians or other small prey when available. Diet varies with habitat and agricultural practices.
Preferred Environment
Forages on the ground under dense grasses and forbs, along field margins, meadows, and damp pastures. In winter, feeds in tall savanna grasses and rank growth near wetlands or floodplains. Often uses cover along ditches and unmown patches.
