Rare Water Rail Spotted at TS Chanakya Wetlands

A Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) was sighted on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, at the TS Chanakya wetlands off Palm Beach Road in Nerul, Navi Mumbai. Wildlife photographer Yash Shetty photographed the migratory bird; birdwatchers said it was the first sighting there in nearly eight years.

Habitat and Sighting

The Water Rail breeds in the Palearctic region and migrates to warmer countries for winter, typically staying from October to February or March. Reeds and marshes at the Seawoods side wetlands provide cover and food, including insects and invertebrates. The shy bird usually feeds among reeds and avoids open areas. Shetty estimated it to be about two years old; its sex was difficult to determine because males and females look alike in non-breeding plumage. Around 50 birders visited on Wednesday, 11 November, but only nine saw it after 10 am. The species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Important Facts for Exams

• Migration pattern: Water Rail populations vary in movement: northern and eastern birds migrate, while those in warmer parts of the breeding range remain resident.
• Reed-bed movement: The Water Rail’s laterally flattened body helps it pass through the dense reed beds it inhabits.
• Seasonal diet: The Water Rail is omnivorous, eating mainly invertebrates in summer and berries or plant stems towards winter.
• Taxonomic distinction: The former subspecies R. indicus is now usually treated as the brown-cheeked rail, with distinctive markings and a very different call.