White-Breasted Waterhen
Amaurornis phoenicurus
Aves › Gruiformes › Rallidae › Amaurornis
Conservation status: least_concern
This waterbird is a member of the rail and crake family. It is recognizable by its dark slaty plumage contrasted with a clean white face, breast, and belly. It forages by probing with its bill in mud or shallow water, and also picking up food by sight.
How To Identify
It is a medium-sized bird distinguished by its contrast: dark brown or blackish plumage covers the back while the breast features conspicuous white markings.
Habitat
It typically inhabits freshwater wetlands, marshes, paddy fields, and reed beds across tropical and subtropical Asia.
Behaviour
This bird is notably secretive and skulking, preferring to move through dense vegetation on foot rather than fly, but it will swim and dive when necessary to escape predators.
Native Range
The white-breasted waterhen is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia.
Did You Know?
The local names of this bird are often formed by onomatopoeia, such as ruak-ruak in Malay and korawakka in Sinhala.
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