Water rail - The secretive reed bird

The water rail is also affectionately known as the "reed pig", as its entire sound repertoire is more reminiscent of a pig than a water bird. Shy and secretive, they mainly move around in the dense shoreline vegetation and communicate by calling. They are masters of hiding. In winter, they sometimes emerge from the protective vegetation. In the event of danger, they fly up quickly, only to disappear into the thicket again immediately afterwards.
They like to eat worms, insects, spiders and occasionally small fish, frogs and carrion.