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Birds of Ireland: Water Rail

A water rail's voice is the easiest way to identify this secretive bird — it's a loud grunting/squealing pig-like call from a reed bed or other waterside vegetation, mainly at dawn/dusk and at night

Birds of Ireland: Water Rail — A water rail. Picture: Richard Mills

Sun, 15 Jun, 2025 - 06:05

Jim Wilson and Mark Carmody

Water Rail (Ralóg uisce | Traonach uisce | Rallus actuaticus)

A water rail is about 22-26 cm long with a wing span of 38-45pm. They are a common breeding species found here all year around — typically on wetlands.

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<p>Scientists have discovered that differences in heatwaves — such as how much hotter they are than normal temperatures, and how long they last — can increase disease burden by up to 13 times in a commonly used experimental animal model</p>

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