Submission No 283: Watercock Gallicrex cinerea; Christmas Island, WA, 30 December 1999. Submitted by: Phil Hansbro.

Verdict: Accepted

Yet another rarity from Christmas Island, this time a report of a Watercock seen in roadside swampy grasses close to the main resort at 5.00pm on the 30th December 1999. The bird was watched from the car on and off for about 30 minutes as dusk approached. Comparisons were made with White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus nearby and the observer was careful to eliminate Corncrake Crex crex.

The description and rather rudimentary sketch provided, details a large rail approximately 30% larger than White-breasted Waterhen that walked stealthily through reeds with its neck outstretched somewhat reminiscent of a Corncrake (a species known to the observer). The forehead looked pale and somewhat flattened relative to the crown. The tail was held in a cocked position and the whole of the underparts including the chin, throat, breast, belly and vent were described as pale brown or buff with no visible markings. The upperparts were also pale although several shades darker than the underparts. The crown, hindneck and uppertail were densely streaked dark-brown. The bill was relatively long and deep compared to White-breasted Waterhen and pale (perhaps yellowish) in colour.

The committee concurred with the observer accepted this record as a Watercock but the age of the bird was more difficult to ascertain. The observer concluded that the lack of any markings on the underparts suggested the bird was in juvenile or first winter plumage. The underbody of adult female and adult non-breeding male Watercock is described in HANZAB Volume 2 as ‘pale buffy-brown with fine wavy dark-barring’ and for juveniles as ‘less barred’ and ‘more tawny’; fine barring is obvious on the female (according to the HANZAB plate) and although duller, barring is also present on the flanks of the juvenile. The committee was therefore unable to confirm the age or sex of the individual. This record is the first to be accepted by BARC. Previous Australian reports also relate to sightings from Christmas Island that are published without details (HANZAB 1993).

References and Bibliography

• Christidis, L & Boles, W.E. 1994. The Taxonomy and Species of Birds of Australia and its Territories. R.A.O.U. Monograph 2. RAOU, Hawthorn East.
• HANZAB. Marchant, S. & Higgins P.J. 1993. The Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds, Volume 2: Raptors to Lapwings. Oxford University Press, Melbourne.
• Del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A. & Sargatal, J. eds 1996. Handbook of the birds of the World, Vol. 3: Hoatzin to Auks. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona.

Tony Palliser
Chairman Birds Australia Rarities Committee (BARC)