The corncrake (Crex crex) is a secretive, ground-dwelling bird belonging to the rail family (Rallidae), which includes coots and moorhens. This migratory species is a summer visitor to its breeding grounds across Europe and Asia. Known for its elusive nature, the corncrake spends most of its time hidden within dense, tall vegetation, making sightings rare. Its presence is far more likely to be heard than seen.
Physical Characteristics and Identification
The corncrake is a medium-sized rail, typically measuring between 27 and 30 centimeters long. Its compact body and short neck are covered in plumage that provides effective camouflage in grasslands. The bird’s upperparts are predominantly buff and brownish-black, streaked with darker markings, while its flanks display rust-colored and white bars.
A distinctive feature is the patch of chestnut-colored feathers visible on its wings during its infrequent, fluttery flights. The face, neck, and breast are a soft blue-grey, contrasting with the dark streaks on its back. Unlike many rail relatives, the corncrake possesses a short, stubby bill and shows a strong reluctance to fly, preferring instead to run swiftly through the protective cover of tall grass.
The Distinctive Call
The species is best known for the loud, rasping, repetitive call of the male, phonetically described as a disyllabic “crex-crex.” This sound is the source of both the bird’s scientific name, Crex crex, and its common name. The call is exceptionally loud, registering around 95 decibels, and can travel over a kilometer across open meadows.
The male’s vocalization is primarily a territorial signal, used to establish and defend breeding grounds from rivals. It also functions as an advertisement to attract females. Calling is most intense during the breeding season, often beginning shortly after the bird’s arrival in spring and continuing for hours, especially between midnight and 3 a.m.
Habitat, Migration, and Diet
The corncrake’s preferred breeding habitat consists of dense, tall grassland, specifically traditional hay meadows and silage fields. These environments offer the continuous, thick cover—at least 20 centimeters high—that this secretive, ground-nesting species requires to hide from predators and raise its young. The bird returns to its Eurasian breeding grounds, stretching from Western Europe to Central Asia, starting in April and May.
The species is a long-distance migrant, undertaking an annual journey of over 10,000 miles to its wintering grounds in sub-Saharan Africa. Corncrakes primarily fly to southeastern countries like South Africa, Zambia, and Tanzania. They favor the dry grassland and savanna habitats found there, seeking out tall vegetation for cover.
The corncrake maintains an omnivorous diet that shifts depending on the season. During the breeding season, the diet focuses heavily on protein-rich invertebrates, such as insects, spiders, earthworms, slugs, and snails. This protein is necessary for energy and chick development. They also supplement this with plant material, primarily the seeds of grasses and other vegetation.
Conservation Status and Recovery Efforts
Historically, the corncrake was widespread, but its population declined across much of its western European range due to changes in agricultural practices. The primary driver was the shift from traditional, late-summer hay cutting to earlier, mechanized silage harvesting, which begins in June. This earlier mowing coincides directly with the corncrake’s nesting period, leading to the destruction of nests, eggs, and unfledged chicks.
Globally, the species is classified as Least Concern due to strong populations in Eastern Europe and Russia. However, in many western countries, such as the UK and Ireland, it remains locally protected and listed as a species of high conservation concern. Recovery strategies focus on agri-environment schemes that incentivize corncrake-friendly farming. A key measure is delayed mowing, which provides financial compensation to farmers who agree not to cut their fields until late summer, allowing chicks time to fledge.
An equally important strategy is “Wildlife-Friendly Mowing.” This technique involves cutting the grass from the center of the field outward to the margins, rather than from the outside in. Because corncrakes are reluctant to break cover, this center-out method pushes the birds and their chicks toward the uncut edges, allowing them to escape the machinery. Conservationists also work with landowners to create and maintain areas of early and late cover, such as nettles or iris beds, to provide suitable vegetation when the birds first arrive and after the main mowing season.