Corncrake

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Corncrake, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

UK Birds of Conservation Concern	Red listed
Species of European Conservation Concern	Least Concern
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global)	Least Concern
Schedule 1 license required (to disturb)	Yes
Birds Directive Annex 1	Yes
Listed on the Annexes of	WCA(I), WBD(I), Bern(III), Bonn(II), NERC (41)

The Corncrake has decreased substantially since the middle of the 20th century when it was still a widespread breeding species. The species is monitored by the RBBP and subject to dedicated annual surveys by the RSPB. Numbers have increased strongly in the 25 years to 2019 but there has been a decline in the latter part of that period and the 904 singing males recorded in 2019 was the lowest number since 2003 (Eaton et al. 2021).

Corncrakes have declined markedly since the 1970s and are now confined to a small number of coastal and island strongholds in Scotland and Ireland, with outlying populations in southern England the result of intense management and captive releases.

Corncrakes are summer visitors from April onwards, with records presumably declining as birds cease calling; a few records of passage birds in autumn.

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Typical Lifespan	2 years with breeding typically at 1 year
Adult Survival	0.286   (Male: 0.298± Female: 0.259±)

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

Ring size	D or E*
Field Codes	2-letter: CE | 5-letter code: CORNC | Euring: 4210

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Causes of change

There is good evidence that the widespread declines during the 20th century were caused by agricultural intensification, in particular early and mechanised mowing of meadows (Green et al. 2009; see also review by Green, 2020). Intensive conservation efforts have sustained the population in its remaining strongholds on the Hebrides. Successful measures to maintain and increase the remaining Scottish island populations have resulted from the conservation measures implemented within agri-environment schemes, including the planting of early cover and the use of Corn Crake friendly mowing methods (O'Brien et al. 2006, Green 2020). However, slight declines since 2015 may have been caused by slight changes in the agri-environment scheme prescriptions which may have led to changes in mowing practices; further research is needed to confirm this and recommend solutions (Green 2020).