Little Crake
Scientific Name: Porzana ParvaMaltese Name: Gallozz Zghir
Family: Rails (Rallidae)
Occurence: Scarce
Breeds in Malta: No
Overview:
The Little Crake is a tiny, slim and neat crake with very long toes. Male has a very rich, bluish appearance. It forages along the edge of the reed bed, looking for invertibrates. Breeds in reedbeds with some bulrush. Its song, given by the male at night, is a loud, repeated croak.
Status:
Scarce Migrant, commoner in spring than in Autumn. Mostly singles or couples are recorded. Very few areas of suitable habitat are available for this species as most freshwater vallies are patrolled by hunters regularly.
When to See:
In spring from late February till early May. In Autumn, September and October.
Where to See:
Best place to observe this species is for sure Simar Nature Reserve. Other good sites include Ghadira Nature Reserve and Ghajn Rihana Valley.
Photographs:
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Female Little Crake, Simar Nature Reserve |
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| Juvenile Little Crake, Simar Nature Reserve | Male Little Crake, Simar Nature Reserve |
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