Least Concern (LC)

16–18 cm in length; a very small, compact crake with short wings, a short greenish bill and green legs.

Winter migrant in the Indian subcontinent; populations breeding in Europe and northern/central Asia migrate south.

Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia during the non-breeding season.

Mainly May–July in Europe and northern/central Asian breeding populations; timing varies by region.

Wet sedge marshes and bogs, particularly areas with dense wetland vegetation.

Freshwater to saline marshes, swamps, flooded meadows and shallow wetlands, usually with dense sedges, reeds or floating vegetation.

Mainly aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, including insects, larvae, spiders, worms and snails; also takes small crustaceans, small fish, seeds and green plant matter.