Distribution of the species
Its general distribution reaches north to Great Britain, the Scandinavian peninsula, Arkhangelsk, Siberia, in the south the Pyrenees, France, Italy, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, the Northern Black Sea coast with the Crimean Peninsula, Armenia, the Caspian Sea; the eastern border is Lake Baikal. In Bulgaria is a breeding summer visitor and passage migrant. There is a mosaic distribution mainly in Western Bulgaria, as in significant localities they are located in Sofia, Western Stara Planina and Central Balkans, Ponor Mountain, along the line Trun-Breznik to the border. It is also found along the Danube and Black Sea coasts, Dobrudja and the Eastern Rhodopes.
Description of the species (biological and ecological features)
In Bulgaria, the Corncrake reaches a body length of up to 28 cm and a wingspan of 49 cm. The plumage of the adults on top is rusty brown with black spots and blue-gray eyebrows, the throat and chest are also blue-gray. The beak is short, conical and yellow. The legs are long and brown, hanging under the body when taking off. The juveniles resemble the adults, but the colors and belts are more obscure.
The biology of the species is understudied. The males are strongly territorial. It feeds on insects: mainly grass-hoppers, also worms and slugs.
They inhabit wet and mesophytic herbaceous associations with a domination of Poa pratensis, Alopecurus pratensis, Gallium aparine, etc., between 500 and 1 800 m, but it has also been registered at an altitude of 2 500 m.
Conservation status
Unknown.
Conservation state
In the Red Book of Bulgaria, the species is included under the category “Vulnerable” (VU), as well as falls in Annexes 2 and 3 of the Biodiversity Act (BDA).
The species is included in Annex II of the Bern Convention on the Conservation of Wild Fauna and Flora and Natural Habitats. The corncrake is listed in Annex I to Directive 2009/147 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds.
Corncrake is also included in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – with the category “Least Concern” (LC).
*Note: For the description of birds is used information from: Golemanski, V. & al. (eds). 2015. Red Data Book of the Republic of Bulgaria. Vol. 2. Animals. BAS & MoEW, Sofia [English ed.: ISBN 978-954-9746-22-8 (IBER – BAS), 978-954-8497-18-3 (MoEW)]; Michev T., D. Simeonov, L. Profirov. 2012. Birds of the Balkan Peninsula. Ecotan, Sofia, 300 pp; the website of the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature).