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Black Crake
Swartriethaan · Zapornia flavirostra
A small, sooty-black waterbird that is far less shy than most of its family. It walks out boldly at reed edges on coral-red legs, showing a glowing yellow bill and red eyes. It eats insects, seeds and tiny creatures, and is even known to pick ticks off basking hippos and buffalo.
Log your Black Crake sighting — free →How to identify it
A small, slaty-black waterbird with a bright lime-yellow bill, red eyes and red legs, bolder and tamer than other crakes.
Listen for its call
A throaty, rolling duet of churrs and 'krrrrok' notes from deep in the reeds.
Where to see it in Kruger
Patrols reedy fringes of pans, dams and rivers, often in full view at the water's edge.
Did you know
Unlike its very shy crake cousins, it happily struts out in the open and even hops onto hippos.
Often confused with
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