Justification This species has an extremely large range, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the range size criterion (Extent of Occurrence <20,000 km2 combined with a declining or fluctuating range size, habitat extent/quality, or population size and a small number of locations or severe fragmentation). Despite the fact that the population trend appears to be decreasing, the decline is not believed to be sufficiently rapid to approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population trend criterion (>30% decline over ten years or three generations). The population size is very large, and hence does not approach the thresholds for Vulnerable under the population size criterion (<10,000 mature individuals with a continuing decline estimated to be >10% in ten years or three generations, or with a specified population structure). For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.

Family/Sub-family Rallidae

Species name author Linnaeus, 1758

Taxonomic source(s) AERC TAC (2003), Cramp and Simmons (1977-1994), Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993), Sibley and Monroe (1990, 1993)

Population estimate

Population trend

Range estimate (breeding/resident)

Country endemic?

100,000 - 1,000,000

unset

15,600,000 km²

No

Ecology: Behaviour Western and southern populations of this species are mainly sedentary³, whereas others are fully migratory, moving overland on a broad front between breeding and wintering grounds¹. After mild winters the spring migration begins in late-February, otherwise it occurs from March to mid-April³ or May¹. In Europe and Russia the autumn migration occurs from August to December^{1, 3}. The species breeds in single pairs or small family groups³ although large concentrations of breeding birds may occurring in extensive wetlands, with nests 20-50 m apart where population densities are high². After breeding the species may pause on passage in favourable habitats between early-July and early-September² to undergo a flightless wing-moult³ that may last for c.3 weeks^{3, 2}. Outside of the breeding season the species remains solitary^{2, 3}, but may occasionally congregate into small groups of up to 30 individuals during the winter². The species regularly uses well-defined paths between favoured food sources within its habitat³. Habitat The species requires muddy ground for foraging¹ and shows a preference for shallow still or slow-flowing water¹ 5-30 cm deep², surrounded by dense riparian, emergent, submergent or aquatic vegetation¹. Breeding It breeds in reedbeds and other emergent vegetation in fresh and saline swamps, fens and marshes^{1, 2} and at the fringes of open fresh or saline lakes^{1, 2, 5}. Other habitats include clay pits, gravel pits, peat excavations², river oxbows and channels, damp meadows⁵ and rice paddy-fields¹. Rather than occupying large uniform wet areas in larger habitats, the species shows a preference for wetlands that form a mosaic with drier patches and areas of trees (e.g. willow Salix spp.²) or other fringing scrub². Non-breeding On migration and in the winter the species frequents riverbanks⁴, canals⁴, gravel pits¹, farm sewage outfalls^{1, 2}, marshy areas (Iceland)¹, bracken on islands^{1, 2}, flooded blackberry Rubus spp. thickets^{1, 2} and other very small wetland patches¹. Diet The species is omnivorous, its diet consisting predominantly of animal matter³ such as worms, leeches, molluscs, shrimps, crayfish, spiders, terrestrial and aquatic insects and larvae, amphibians^{1, 2} (e.g. frogs, toads and newts)², fish, birds and mammals¹. It also takes plant matter (especially during the autumn and winter) including shoots, roots, seeds, berries and fruits¹. Breeding site The nest is a substantial cup of vegetation^{1, 2} that is usually positioned in thick stands of reeds or rushes on the ground in or near water, or rarely on a tree stump or in the open^{1, 2}. Nests placed in water are built up if the water level rises⁴.

Threats The species is vulnerable to severe conditions (e.g. ice or severe floods)^{1, 2}.

References 1. del Hoyo et al. (1996). 2. Taylor and van Perlo (1998). 3. Snow and Perrins (1998). 4. Urban et al. (1986).

Further web sources of information

Detailed species account from Birds in Europe: population estimates, trends and conservation status (BirdLife International 2004)

Text account compilers Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International), Jonathan Ekstrom (BirdLife International), Lucy Malpas (BirdLife International)

IUCN Red List evaluators Jeremy Bird (BirdLife International), Stuart Butchart (BirdLife International)

Recommended citation BirdLife International (2009) Species factsheet: Rallus aquaticus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 9/2/2010

This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.

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