I have noticed recently much discussion and occasional puzzlement over the small crakes now evident at Maconachie’s Swathe and other spots at Kellys. The field guides are not all that satisfactory and views are often brief or obscured. Here is my attempt at some clarification, showing relative size and in similar good light.
Spotted and Spotless are about same size and Baillon’s is markedly smaller. However individuals vary in size within the one species. Spotted and Spotless can both appear just dark in dull light. Spotted has a white triangular tail flash when seen from behind - Baillon’s as shown. However the degree of white varies considerably in individual birds. At the moment a couple of Spotless at the Swathe generally appear as scurrying, dark quick-movers. There are at least 3 Spotted and 3 Baillon’s there too.
