Water rail

The water rail is a shy wetland bird that slips through dense reeds with its narrow body. It lives across Europe, Asia, and North Africa, with some populations migrating seasonally. Adults have blue-grey bellies and long red beaks, while chicks are fluffy and black like all rail babies.

• Its body is flattened side-to-side to help it squeeze through thick reeds.
• Adults measure 23-28 cm long, about the size of a ruler.
• Northern water rails fly south for winter, but southern ones stay put year-round.