White-Breasted Waterhen

White-Breasted Waterhen is a rail widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia. Adults are dark slaty above with a clean white face, neck and breast, a cinnamon or white lower belly, a short tail and a yellow bill and legs. It is bolder than most rails and often seen stepping slowly with its tail cocked in open marshes or roadside drains (Wikipedia, general species account). It is largely crepuscular, and just after the first rains in the breeding season it gives loud, repetitive croaking calls (Wikipedia, general species account). (Wikipedia, general species account).

Their breeding habitat is marshes across tropical Asia from Pakistan east to 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. These large 32 cm (13 in) long rails are permanent residents throughout their range. Individuals have been noted as some of the early colonizers on the volcanic island of Rakata. (Wikipedia, general species account).