Watercock
Gallicrex cinerea
LCLeast Concern
- Family
- Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae)
- Order
- Gruiformes
Overview
The watercock (Gallicrex cinerea) is a waterbird in the rail and crake family, Rallidae that is widely distributed across Southeast Asia. It is the only member of the genus Gallicrex.
Summary from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Range and habitat
Breeds from northern Pakistan eastward in sub-Himalayan region to northeastern China, southeastern Russia, and southern Ryukyu Islands (southern Japan), southward to southeastern Pakistan, southern India, Sri Lanka, western Greater Sundas, and Philippines; northeastern populations winter to south, reaching Sulawesi and central Lesser Sundas.
Range description: AviList Global Avian Checklist.
Sources and further reading
- Wikipedia: Watercock
- eBird: sightings, maps and photos
- xeno-canto: sound recordings
- Birds of the World: full species account (subscription)
- BirdLife DataZone: status and threats
- IUCN Red List (threat status)
- AviList global checklist (taxonomy)
Last updated September 29, 2026.
