 The water rail is a vocal species which gives its main call , known as " sharming " , throughout the year . This is a series of grunts followed by a high @-@ pitched piglet @-@ like squeal and ending in more grunts . It is used as a territorial call , alarm and announcement . Members of a pair may call alternately , the male giving lower and slower notes than his partner . The courtship song , given by both sexes , is a tyick @-@ tyick @-@ tyick often ending with a trill from the female ; the male may sing for hours . The flight call is a sharp whistle , and other vocalizations include a loud repeated creak given by the male when showing the nest site to the female , and a purring given by both parents when at the nest with chicks . The rails are most vocal when setting up a territory and early in the breeding season , when calling may continue at night . Chicks initially cheep weakly , but soon develop a tyk @-@ tyk @-@ trik begging call . 
