22-12-2023 CALYPSO BAR, GAMBIA - BLACK CRAKE

The black crake (Zapornia flavirostra) is a waterbird in the rail and crake family, Rallidae. It breeds in most of sub-Saharan Africa except in very arid areas. It undertakes some seasonal movements in those parts of its range which are subject to drought. No subspecies have been described. It appears that the oldest available name for this species is actually Rallus niger J. F. Gmelin, 1788, but Swainson believed that the earlier name was unidentifiable, and his own has since become well embedded in the literature.

The adult black crake is 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) long with a short tail and long toes. As its name implies, the adult has mainly black plumage, with a brown olive tone on the wings and upperparts which is rarely detectable in the field. The eye is red, the bill is yellow (hence the flavirostra of the binomial name), and the legs and feet are red, duller when not breeding.

The sexes are similar, but the male is slightly larger. Most males, but only 10% of females, have a hooked upper mandible. The immature bird has brown upperparts and a dark grey head and underparts. Its bill is greenish yellow, and its feet and legs are dull red. The downy chicks are black, as with all rails.

The main call of the black crake is a duet, starting with a throaty chattering krrrok-kraaaa. The response is a dove-like cooing coo-crr-COO.

The habitat of this common to abundant species is freshwater marshes of all types, as long as there is some vegetation to provide cover. Many rails are very secretive, but the black crake is often seen out in the open. It has benefited from human activity in the form of deforestation, and is rarely hunted because of its unpalatable flesh.

The black crake is extremely aggressive when breeding and will attack birds of many species, but especially other rails. It will attack and kill rails of species as large as itself.

The nest is a deep, neat bowl made from wetland plants and built by both sexes in marsh vegetation or on the ground in a dry location. The nest is also sometimes constructed up to 3 m (9.8 ft) high in a bush.

The two to six, usually three, eggs are cream or white, and spotted with brown or chestnut. Both parents, sometimes assisted by the young from previous broods, incubate for 13–19 days to hatching. The precocial chicks leave the nest in 1–3 days, but are fed by parents and helpers for several weeks. They can fly by 5–6 weeks, and are independent at 6–12 weeks.

The black crake is diurnal, and this confiding bird will feed close to humans and often in the open. It eats a wide range of invertebrates, small fish, frogs and seeds. It will take the eggs of birds and scavenge on carcasses. It will forage on the ground or climb reeds to find prey including flying insects.

This species will perch on hippopotamuses and warthogs and remove parasites.

The black crake (Zapornia flavirostra ) is a waterbird in the rail and crake family, Rallidae. It breeds in most of sub-Saharan Africa except in very arid areas. It undertakes some seasonal movements in those parts of its range which are subject to drought. No subspecies have been described. It appears that the oldest available name for this species is actually Rallus niger J. F. Gmelin, 1788, but Swainson believed that the earlier name was unidentifiable, and his own has since become well embedded in the literature.

The Black crake is a species from sub-Saharan Africa, absent from the desert areas of South West and North East Africa. This bird frequents different types of freshwater habitats, preferring the dense undergrowth of wet clearings in wooded regions, and the grassy marshes of open areas. Habitats for this species include still and flowing inland freshwaters like ponds, lakes, reservoirs, and seasonal pans, as well as temporary flooded areas beside rivers; preferably fringed with rank grass, sedges, papyrus, reed beds, swampy thickets, bushes, or some other vegetation. These birds need tangled vegetation for taking cover, roosting and nesting. They may undertake seasonal movements in parts of their range where drought occurs. 

24-4-2022 CALYPSO BAR, GAMBIA - BLACK CRAKE (Zapornia flavirostra)

The black crake (Zapornia flavirostra) is a waterbird in the rail and crake family, Rallidae. It breeds in most of sub-Saharan Africa except in very arid areas. It undertakes some seasonal movements in those parts of its range which are subject to drought. No subspecies have been described. It appears that the oldest available name for this species is actually Rallus niger J. F. Gmelin, 1788, but Swainson believed that the earlier name was unidentifiable, and his own has since become well embedded in the literature.

The habitat of this common to abundant species is freshwater marshes of all types, as long as there is some vegetation to provide cover. Many rails are very secretive, but the black crake is often seen out in the open. It has benefited from human activity in the form of deforestation, and is rarely hunted because of its unpalatable flesh.

The black crake is extremely aggressive when breeding and will attack birds of many species, but especially other rails. It will attack and kill rails of species as large as itself.

The nest is a deep, neat bowl made from wetland plants and built by both sexes in marsh vegetation or on the ground in a dry location. The nest is also sometimes constructed up to 3 m (9.8 ft) high in a bush.

The two to six, usually three, eggs are cream or white, and spotted with brown or chestnut. Both parents, sometimes assisted by the young from previous broods, incubate for 13–19 days to hatching. The precocial chicks leave the nest in 1–3 days, but are fed by parents and helpers for several weeks. They can fly by 5–6 weeks, and are independent at 6–12 weeks.

24-5-2019 MANA POOLS, ZIMBABWE - BLACK CRAKE (Zapornia flavirostra)

The black crake is diurnal, and this confiding bird will feed close to humans and often in the open. It eats a wide range of invertebrates, small fish, frogs and seeds. It will take the eggs of birds and scavenge on carcasses. It will forage on the ground or climb reeds to find prey including flying insects.

This species will perch on hippopotamuses and warthogs and remove parasites.

7-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - BLACK CRAKE (Zapornia flavirostra)

The Black Crake, known scientifically as Zapornia flavirostra, is a rather striking waterbird from the rail and crake family, Rallidae. Adults typically measure between 19 to 23 centimeters in length, featuring a short tail and notably long toes. The plumage is predominantly black, with a subtle brown olive hue on the wings and upperparts that is often imperceptible in natural light. The bird's eye is a vivid red, complemented by a yellow bill—aptly reflected in its binomial name—and legs and feet of a reddish hue, which may appear duller outside of the breeding season.

Both sexes of the Black Crake are similar in appearance, though males are marginally larger and most exhibit a hooked upper mandible—a feature less common in females. Juveniles display brown upperparts with a dark grey head and underparts, and their bill is a greenish yellow. Their legs and feet are a muted red. The downy chicks are uniformly black, a common trait among rails.

The Black Crake favors freshwater marshes teeming with vegetation, which provides essential cover. Unlike many of its rail relatives, this species is often observed in the open, thanks to its less secretive nature.

This bird is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, save for regions that are particularly arid. It is known to undertake seasonal movements in response to drought conditions.

The Black Crake is diurnal and exhibits a certain boldness, often feeding in close proximity to humans. It is a common to abundant species that has adapted well to human-altered landscapes, such as areas affected by deforestation. Notably, the species is seldom hunted due to the unpalatable nature of its flesh.

The primary vocalization of the Black Crake is a duet commencing with a throaty chattering "krrrok-kraaaa," followed by a dove-like cooing "coo-crr-COO."

During the breeding season, the Black Crake becomes fiercely territorial and aggressive, even towards birds of similar size. Both sexes contribute to constructing a deep, neat bowl-shaped nest from wetland plants, which may be situated in marsh vegetation, on the ground, or occasionally elevated in a bush. The clutch typically consists of two to six eggs, which are cream or white with brown or chestnut spots. Incubation, lasting 13 to 19 days, is a shared duty, sometimes aided by offspring from previous broods. The precocial chicks venture from the nest within a few days of hatching and are fed by their parents and helpers for several weeks thereafter, achieving flight by 5 to 6 weeks of age and independence at 6 to 12 weeks.

The Black Crake's diet is varied, including invertebrates, small fish, frogs, seeds, bird eggs, and it will scavenge on carcasses. It forages on the ground or climbs reeds to capture prey, including flying insects. A peculiar behavior is observed when it perches on hippopotamuses and warthogs to remove parasites.

The Black Crake is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it does not face any immediate threat of extinction.