Shy and secretive and easily overlooked. Has strange, loud squealing calls. The cacophony of highly unbirdlike noises from reedbeds in winter indicates the presence of ever secretive water rails. These distinctive calls, most often heard at dawn and dusk, are a mixture of squeals, grunts and groaning screams likened to the cries of an animal in mortal agony. Favouring reedbeds and over-grown dykes where no tangle of vegetation is too dense, water rails prefer to escape danger by using long powerful legs rather than short rounded wings.
Flight appears weak with legs limply dangling.
This impression is false for it undertakes lengthy journeys. During the course of its migratory flights the water rail seems prone to collisions with overhead wires and North Sea rig platforms suggesting that even though its rapidly beating wings can carry it for long distances it is not really suited to high flight. Yet ringing recoveries confirm many water rails move into this country for the winter from the Netherlands, Belgium and southern Scandinavia. Others summer in northern and central Europe even cross such mountain systems as the Alps. Here the unfortunate birds 'afforded ample sport' with as many as 22 being obtained by a single gunner within a few hours.