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Species › Birds

Spotted Crake

Porzana porzana

Order
Gruiformes
Family
Rallidae
Presence in the Strait
Seasonal
Protection in Spain
Special protection (List)
In Spanish
Polluela pintoja

Photograph: egorbirder, CC BY, vía iNaturalist

Length
22–24 cm
Wingspan
37–42 cm
Weight
90 g
02040LENGTH22–24 cmWINGSPAN37–42 cmcentimetres

Presence in the Strait

Accidental winter visitor to the River Guadiaro estuary and Marismas del Palmones. In the 19th Century, bred in La Janda and was considered more abundant than the Water Rail.

Identification

Slightly smaller than the Water Rail and with very similar habits. Short bill, with finely spotted plumage and buff undertail coverts easy to see because of the bird’s habit of lifting the tail.

Movements

Accidental Trans-Saharan migrant with scattered records in February and August.

Ring recoveries

Chick ringed in Holland on 3.08.63, was controlled 50 days later at Sanlucar de Barrameda (Cadiz), some 1,948 Km away.

Bioestrecho editorial text. Last revised: 8 September 2026.

Gallery

Photographs from iNaturalist observations with the licence checked file by file. Those marked “Strait” were taken within the area; place and date are those of each observation.