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  1. Species
  2. ›
  3. Rallidae
  4. ›
  5. Porzana
  6. ›
  7. Australian Crake
Australian Crake
Photo · no rights reserved

BirdUp · Species

Australian Crake

Porzana flumineaGould, 1843

Updated 11 June 2026

Origin: Endemic
Order
GRUIFORMES
Family
Rallidae
Genus
Porzana

At a glance

The Australian Crake is a medium-sized bird, about 19–23 cm long, endemic to Australia. It can be seen year-round.

Size
19–23 cm
Origin
Endemic
Best seen
Year-round
Commonness
Endemic
  • Identification
  • Where
  • When
  • Voice
  • Behaviour
  • Gallery

01 · Identification

How to tell it apart

What does an Australian Crake look like?

The Australian Crake is a medium-sized bird, about 19–23 cm long and weighing 50–81 g.

The Australian crake , also known as Australian spotted crake, or spotted crake is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is the only species of Australian crake in the genus Porzana.

Description · wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0

Field specs

Length
19–23 cm
Weight
50–81 g
Wingspan
27 cm

Measurements · avonet · CC BY 4.0

03 · When

When to look

When can you see an Australian Crake?

The Australian Crake is present across its Australian range year-round, so it can be seen in any month.

  1. Jan
  2. Feb
  3. Mar
  4. Apr
  5. May
  6. Jun
  7. Jul
  8. Aug
  9. Sep
  10. Oct
  11. Nov
  12. Dec

04 · Voice

What it sounds like

Call

jimchurches · Breadalbane NSW 2581, Australia

Call

jimchurches · Barwang NSW 2594, Australia

Call

Nick Swanson · Eagleby QLD 4207, Australia

Call

jimchurches · Breadalbane NSW 2581, Australia

05 · Behaviour

Habits and haunts

What does an Australian Crake eat?

The Australian Crake feeds on seeds, terrestrial invertebrates, intertidal invertebrates and fish/invertebrates, usually foraging in pairs or alone.

06 · Gallery

Plumage up close

6 photos

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02 · Where

Where to find it

Where does the Australian Crake live in Australia?

The Australian Crake is endemic to Australia, recorded across 68 of Australia’s bioregions.

BreedingAustralia (except north, south-central)

Distribution from BirdUp Australia community data

Legend

  • Resident
  • Breeding

8 regions recorded