Do water rails migrate?
Water rail
The water rail (Rallus aquaticus) is a bird of the rail family which breeds in well-vegetated wetlands across Europe, Asia and North Africa. Northern and eastern populations are migratory, but this species is a permanent resident in the warmer parts of its breeding range. The adult is 23–28cm (9–11in) long, and, like other rails, has a body that is flattened laterally, allowing it easier passage through the reed beds it inhabits. It has mainly brown upperparts and blue-grey underparts, black barring on the flanks, long toes, a short tail and a long reddish bill. Immature birds are generally similar in appearance to the adults, but the blue-grey in the plumage is replaced by buff. The downy chicks are black, as with all rails. The former subspecies R.indicus, has distinctive markings and a call that is very different from the pig-like squeal of the western races, and is now usually split as a separate species, the brown-cheeked rail.
Rakali
This widespread species can be found in permanent water systems in Australia, New Guinea and offshore islands. Water rats live near permanent water in a diverse range of habitat that varies from fresh slow moving streams, brackish inland lakes and creeks to wetlands, rivers, estuaries and beaches on coastlines. Found in all states and territories, this adaptable species has resumed resettlement populations in both Australia and New Guinea. The map above shows their distribution throughout Australia and New Guinea.