Baillon's crake

    Porzana pusilla

Castilian: Polluela chica

Catalan: Rasclet

Gallego: Poliña pequena

Euskera: Uroilanda txikia

CLASIFICACIÓN:

Orden: Gruiformes

Family: Rallidae

Migratory status: Summer resident

CONSERVATION STATUS:

On the National List of Threatened Species, it appears in the “Of Special Interest” category. In the 2004 edition of the Red Book of Spanish Birds (Libro Rojo de las Aves de España) it is listed as “Insufficient Data”.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

listen song

THREATS

Loss of habitat due to drainage, changes in flood levels, vegetation burning, industrial landfills, and contamination from pesticides. Sometimes they are accidentally captured in lobster pots that are meant for crayfish.

Length / size: 17-19 cm / 33-37 cm

Identification: Small bird with a reddish-brown back that has white and black streaks; its breast, face and throat are slate grey; its tail covert feathers have black and white bars; and its bill is green.

Song: It makes a "crr crr crr" sound that resembles a frog's croaking.

Diet: It primarily feeds on aquatic invertebrates such as worms, snails and insects, which it complements with algae and stalks that it eats while swimming.

Reproduction: After courtship, the male builds the nest near water, hidden among the vegetation, using leaves and stalks from aquatic plants. The eggs are laid around the month of April and incubation is performed by both adults; the chicks are very active shortly after being born. The smaller chicks may attack by pecking in order to defend the nest.

HABITAT

It in habits shallow, wet areas, both freshwater and saltwater, and with abundant vegetation in which it can hide, such as coastal marshes, marshes, riverbanks and ponds.

DISTRIBUTION

In Spain: It is found in specific places in Catalonia, Levate, La Rioja, Navarre and the southwest area of the peninsula.

In Castile and León: It has only been proven that it breeds near Peñaranda and in the River Tormes in Alba de Tormes (Salamanca). It migrates to lakes in southeastern León and La Nava Lake (Palencia).

Movements and migrations: Only some European populations migrate to regions that are further south, like Spain or Africa, to spend the winter.

POPULATION

In Spain: There is an estimated population of 52 breeding pairs.

In Castile and León: