A very shy species, but we're lucky enough to find Water Rails relatively easily along the Santa Clara Valley near the Quinta. There is very little sexual dimorphism but the male is slightly larger than the female and courts her with offerings of food. Normally keeps well hidden in amongst dense reed-beds, but occasionally will come out and run across gaps or even cross open stretches of water jacana-like over lilly pads. Call is akin to a squealing pig and unmistakeable.