Black Crake

Afrikaans name: Swartriethaan

A Black Crake looks for food in a stream

Photo © Steven Herbert

Amaurornis flavirostra

The Black Crake is a striking bird that belongs to the Rail and Crake family.

It is not as shy as most members of this family but it does normally keep close to the reeds so it can dive into cover as soon as there is a sign of danger or other disturbance.

Male and female are similar with black plumage, yellow bill and red legs.

Black Crakes are normally found in marshes or other bodies of water where there is plenty of cover.

They make their nest amongst the reeds or on the bank amongst vegetation. Sometimes they place their nest off the ground in a bush.

The Black Crake eats a variety of food including frogs, fish, invertebrates and seeds.

Photo © Steven Herbert

Above - Black Crakes belong to the Rail family which are renowned for not showing themselves out in the open. They skulk around reedbeds making intersting calls but very rarely venturing out into the open. The Black Crake doesn't quite fit the mold. Yes, it often skulks around the reeds making its call but sometimes they feel totally at home wandering around the edges of dams and ponds.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	203	Limnocorax flavirostra
2nd	203	Limnocorax flavirostra
3rd	203	Limnocorax flavirostra
4th	203	Limnocorax flavirostris
5th	213	Amaurornis flavirostra
6th	213	Amaurornis flavirostra
7th	217	Zapornia flavirostra

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	203	Black Crake
2nd	203	Black Crake
3rd	203	Black Crake
4th	203	Black Crake
5th	213	Black Crake
6th	213	Black Crake
7th	217	Black Crake

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	203	Swart-riethaantjie
2nd	203	Swart Riethaantjie
3rd	203	Swart Riethaan
4th	203	Swart Riethaan
5th	213	Swartriethaan
6th	213	Swartriethaan
7th	217	Swartriethaan

References and further reading

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 35

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 74

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 41

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 84

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 6

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 146

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 144

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 188

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 191

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 141

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 135

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 98

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 105

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 102

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 102

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 104

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 58

Common Birds of the North Coast - Author: Bing Comrie - Published: 2005 - Page: 22

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 24

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 78

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 77

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 69

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 51

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 38

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 97

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 73

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 162

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 162

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 94

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds