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Spotless CrakeAlternate name(s): "Leaden Crake", "Tabuan Crake", "Swamp-rail", "Little Swamp-hen", "Puekeko*", "Putoto" ![]() Size: 17-20 cm Weight: 35-55 g |
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Photos |
Race "tabuensis"
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ADULT |
Sex unknown |
Near-frontal view of a Spotless Crake
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, February 2019]
Near-lateral view of a Spotless Crake
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, September 2018]
Lateral view of a Spotless Crake
(photo courtesy of J. Boettcher, FNQ Nature Tours)
[Tyto Wetlands, Ingham, QLD, November 2020]
Lateral view of a Spotless Crake (photo courtesy of
C. Charles)
[Triangle Pond, Homebush, Sydney, NSW, January 2009]
Lateral view of a Spotless Crake
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, September 2018]
Lateral view of a Spotless Crake
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, February 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a Spotless Crake
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, February 2019]
Near-dorsal view of a Spotless Crake foraging for food
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Sandy Camp Wetlands, Lytton, QLD, March 2019]
Dorsal view of a Spotless Crake
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, December 2016]
Lateral view of a Spotless Crake in flight, with a view of its
underwing pattern (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, November 2013]
Lateral view of a Spotless Crake in flight, with a view of its
upperwing pattern (photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, November 2013]
Lateral view of a Spotless Crake in flight, here seen carrying an insect
back to its dependent young
(
photo courtesy of B. Hensen)
[Eastlakes Golf Course, Sydney, NSW, November 2013]
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IMMATURE/JUVENILE |
Frontal view of a Spotless Crake chick; note the off-white cheek
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whites Hill Reserve, Brisbane, QLD, February 2019]
Frontal view of a Spotless Crake chick; note the off-white cheek
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[Whites Hill Reserve, Brisbane, QLD, February 2019]
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Behaviour |
Although not streaked, the plumage of Spotless Crakes is also cryptic - it is adapted to camouflage the birds in the dark, often muddy habitats they prefer.
Spotless Crake moving along the edge of a well-vegetated
lake,
in this case a small, disused and largely silted-up water
storage dam
- this is the only thing one may be able to pick up before the
bird disappears from view again; even in the original photo, taken
with a 300-mm tele-lens, it is hard to spot ("find the bird!" - at
the base of the reed stalks, just below the centre of the image)
[Old Quipolly Dam, near Quirindi, NSW, December 2016]