Corncrake Crex crex   [Linnaeus, 1758]

Other Names Trends & Distribution Breeding & Survival Biometrics Books & Links

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Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae
BTO Codes: CE, CORNC EURING No: 4210
Number in Britain: 1200 males (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK: RED
European: 1 Global Conservation Concern; Depleted
Global: Near Threatened ( Details )
Links to: Images   Videos   Sound  
Status in UK: (A)  Migrant Breeder, Passage Visitor
Subspecies: Monotypic
.
Length: 28 cm Wingspan: 50 cm Weight: M: 170 g   F: 140 g    
Scientific name from: Gr.: krex=a long-legged bird mentioned by Herodotus, Aristotle and other
World Distribution: BREEDS: Europe, n&c Asia, WINTERS: s Europe to s Africa
Habitat: Grassland, riparian thickets
Diet: Mostly small inverebrates, also some seeds, from ground or off plants
TitBit: This brown, chicken-sized bird, prefers to run when threatened with danger - so it is best to harvest hay fields (where it nests) from the inside out, giving it somewhere to escape to.  

Population and Distribution

Population Trend: No population trend available
Distribution: Atlas Maps    (Local Atlases)   
British Population Size:
    Summer: 1167 males in 2009
    First Record: 11th Century [Fossil evidence from early Holocene, up to 10,000 yr ago]
    Latest Survey: Holling, M. & RBBP (2011) British Birds 104:476-537
    Conservation Status: RED because Historical Population Decline, Recent Breeding Population Decline (1969-2007), Recent Breeding Range Decline (1969-2007)
   Previous Assessments: 2002-2007 RED     1996-2001 RED  
   Races of Concern:
UK Biodiversity Action Plan (Lead Partner: RSPB)
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
    No habitat data from BBS
European Population Size:
    Summer: 300 to 500 thousand pairs
Population Assesment from Birds in Europe
Distribution in Europe
European Species Action Plan
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of: WCA(I), WBD(I), Bern(III), Bonn(II)
Survey Results: BirdTrack

Breeding and Survival

Egg Size: 37 x 26 mm Egg Weight: 13.2 g (of which 7 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records: 0
Clutch Size: 8 - 12 eggs 9.70 ± . (6 - 14) N = .
Incubation: 16- 19 days 18.60 ± . (. - .) N = .   by the: Female
Fledging: 34 - 38days 11.60 ± . (. - .) N = . as: Precocial, downy
Source:
Schaffer, N. & Koffibjerg, K. (2004) BWP Update 6:55-76
First Clutches Laid: Unavailable
Number of Broods: 1/2
Number Ringed: 87 (Annual Totals)
Adult Survival: 0.286    (M:0.298 ; F:0.259 )      
Juvenile Survival: No data
Age at First Breeding: Typical Lifespan: No data
Maximum Recorded Age: 1 years 11 months 20 days (set in 1998)
Summary of Ringing Recoveries       

Biometrics

Ring Size: D or Eo*
Wing Length Adult: Insufficient Data
Juvenile: Insufficient Data
Male: Insufficient Data
Female: Insufficient Data
Weight Adult: Insufficient Data
Juvenile: Insufficient Data
Male: Insufficient Data
Female: Insufficient Data

Other Names

 
Gaelic: Traon Welsh: Rhegen yr Yd
Danish: Engsnarre Dutch: Kwartelkoning
Finnish: Ruisrääkkä French: Râle des genêts
German: Wachtelkönig Hungarian: Haris
Icelandic: Engirella Irish: Traonach
Italian: Re di quaglie Norwegian: Åkerrikse
Polish: Derkacz zwyczajny Portuguese: Codornizão
Spanish: Guión Swedish: Kornknarr
Local Names:Hay Crake, Land Rail

For More Information...

Books and Monographs:
   Green, R. 1999 Corncrakes : naturally Scottish SNH - Scottish Natural Heritage, Battleby [598.554 GRE]
   Taylor, B. & van Perlo, B. 1998 Rails Pica Press, Sussex [598.554 TAY]
See Also:
Find scientific papers on Google Scholar or Scirus by clicking the icon
Wikipedia entry
BirdLife species page
Recent sightings and information from BirdGuides
State of the Nations Birds by Chris Mead