Common name: White-breasted Waterhen
Scientific name: Amaurornis phoenicurus
Family: Rallidae

Size:
Body length: 30–33 cm
Wingspan: 45–50 cm
Weight: 180–300 g

Identification:
A medium-sized rail with a striking contrast between its white face, throat, and breast and the dark slate-grey body. The undertail is chestnut-rufous and often visible when the bird flicks its short tail upward. It has long yellowish legs and a greenish-yellow bill. Its body shape is slender and adapted for moving through dense wetland vegetation.

Habitat:
Wetlands, marshes, ponds, mangroves, canals, rice fields, and dense vegetation near freshwater.

Status in the UAE:
Rare visitor and locally established in limited wetland habitats.

Diet:
Omnivorous — feeds on insects, worms, mollusks, seeds, aquatic plants, and small aquatic animals.

Behavior:
Usually active along the edges of vegetation, walking cautiously through reeds or muddy banks. More visible than many rails and may forage in open areas near water. Frequently flicks its tail while moving. Vocal, especially during dawn and dusk, producing loud repetitive calls.

Conservation status:
Least Concern (IUCN Red List)