Bird of the week – Black crake

FOUND in local marshes, reedy watercourses, ponds, lake fringes and river backwaters, the black crake has a voice akin to a high-pitched clucking followed by deep, growling bullfrog-like growls.

Ít sounds like ‘k- k-k-rrrung’.

The bird clucks while foraging and walks over floating river plants, jerking its head and tail.

The black crake feeds on insects, molluscs, worms, small fish, heron’s eggs, seeds and water plants. It lays three eggs in a nest made of a bulky bowl of rushes, grass and other water plants.

The young are fledgings for about five weeks and are fed by both parents for 10 days. Earlier broods help build a nest and feed younger broods.

The black crake’s Zulu name is umJekajeka.