White-breasted Waterhen

The white-breasted waterhen is a large and distinctive rail species with dark grey upper parts and flanks, and conspicuous white underparts, from which the species gains its common name. The face is also white, and the rear flanks and underside of the tail are reddish-brown. The beak is yellowish, with a reddish base, but becomes more olive outside of the breeding season . The long legs are yellowish, with large, rather ungainly-looking feet   , and the legs are dangled in flight . The female white-breasted waterhen is generally smaller than the male, with a somewhat duller beak, while juveniles have duller plumage, with the white of the underparts tinged brown, and a darker beak and legs  . This species is described as being very noisy during the breeding season, producing a loud call consisting of various grunts, roars, quacks and chuckles, followed by a repeated kru-ak, kru-ak, kru-ak-a-wak-wak that may continue for 15 minutes or more . It also produces a sharp, metallic pwik call .
White-breasted Waterhens eat mainly seeds, insects and small fish. They also nibble on worms and small snails; and snack on shoots and roots of marsh plants
Their breeding habitat is marshes across south Asia from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka to south China and Indonesia. They are mainly seen in the plains but have been known from the higher hills such as in Nainital (1300m) and the High Range (1500m) in Kerala

Size & weight:
Length: 28 - 33 cm
Male weight: 203 - 328 g
Female weight: 166 - 225 g