Editing Corn crake (section)

==Distribution and habitat==
[[File:Hay Crop - geograph.org.uk - 34715.jpg|Hayfields are the preferred nesting habitat.|alt=Field of hay with green field beyond|thumb]]
The corn crake breeds from Ireland east through Europe to central Siberia. Although it has vanished from much of its historic range, this bird was once found in suitable habitats in Eurasia everywhere between latitudes 41°N and 62°N.<ref name="rocamora" /> There is also a sizable population in western China,<ref name="asia" /> but this species nests only rarely in northern Spain and in Turkey. Old claims of breeding in South Africa are incorrect, and result from misidentification of eggs in a museum collection which are actually those of the [[African rail]].

The corn crake winters mainly in Africa, from the [[Democratic Republic of the Congo]] and central Tanzania south to eastern South Africa. North of this area, it is mainly seen on migration, but occasionally winters in [[North Africa]] and to the west and north of its core area in southeast Africa. Most of the South African population of about 2,000 birds occurs in [[KwaZulu-Natal]] and the former [[Transvaal Province]], and numbers elsewhere in Africa are uncertain. There are several nineteenth-century records, when populations were much higher than now, of birds being seen in western Europe, mainly Britain and Ireland, between December and February.<ref name="BWP" />
[[File:Crex crex00.jpg|thumb|alt=Old painting of two adults with a black, downy chick|upright|Adults and young]]
This crake migrates to Africa along two main routes: a western route through Morocco and Algeria, and a more important [[flyway]] through Egypt. On passage, it has been recorded in most countries between its breeding and wintering ranges, including much of West Africa.<ref name="taylor320" /> Birds from [[Coll]] following the western route paused in West Africa on their way further south, and again on the return flight, when they also rested in Spain or North Africa.<ref name="BB106" /> Eastern migrants have been recorded in those parts of southern Asia that lie between the east of the breeding range and Africa. Further afield, the corn crake has been recorded as a [[vagrancy (biology)|vagrant]] to Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Australia,<ref name="asia" /> New Zealand,<ref>{{cite web |title=Corncrake |url=http://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/?q=node/307 |website=New Zealand Birds Online}}</ref> the Seychelles,<ref name="ABC" /> Bermuda,<ref name="bourne" /> Canada, the US, Greenland,<ref name="taylor320" /> Iceland, Brazil,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=de Burgos |first=Kleber |last2=Olmos |first2=Fábio |date=September 2013 |title=First record of Corncrake Crex crex (Rallidae) for South America |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/290297982_First_record_of_Corncrake_Crex_crex_Rallidae_for_South_America |journal=Revista Brasileira de Ornitologia |volume=21 |issue=3 |pages=205–208}}</ref> the [[Faroe islands|Faroes]], the [[Azores]], [[Madeira]], and the [[Canary Islands]].<ref name="BWP" />

The corn crake is mainly a lowland species, but breeds up to {{convert|1,400|m|ft|abbr=on}} altitude in the [[Alps]], {{convert|2700|m|ft|abbr=on}} in China and {{convert|3000|m|ft|abbr=on}} in Russia.<ref name="asia" /><ref name="BWP" /> When breeding in Eurasia, the corn crake's habitats would originally have included river meadows with tall grass and meadow plants including [[Carex|sedges]] and [[iris (plant)|irises]]. It is now mainly found in cool moist grassland used for the production of hay, particularly moist traditional farmland with limited cutting or fertiliser use. It also utilises other treeless grasslands in mountains or [[taiga]], on coasts, or where created by fire. Moister areas like wetland edges may be used, but very wet habitats are avoided, as are open areas and those with vegetation more than {{convert|50|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall, or too dense to walk through. The odd bush or hedge may be used as a calling post. Grassland which is not mown or grazed becomes too matted to be suitable for nesting, but locally-grown crops such as [[cereal]]s, peas, [[Brassica napus|rape]], [[clover]] or potatoes may be used. After breeding, adults move to taller vegetation such as [[Phragmites|common reed]], iris, or [[Urtica dioica|nettle]]s to moult, returning to the hay and [[silage]] meadows for the second brood.<ref name="taylor320" /> In China, [[flax]] is also used for nest sites.<ref name="asia" /> Although males often sing in intensively managed grass or cereal crops, successful breeding is uncommon, and nests in the field margins or nearby fallow ground are more likely to succeed.<ref name="rocamora" />

When wintering in Africa, the corn crake occupies dry grassland and [[savanna]] habitats, occurring in vegetation {{convert|30|–|200|cm|ft|abbr=on}} tall, including seasonally burnt areas and occasionally sedges or [[reed bed]]s. It is also found on fallow and abandoned fields, uncut grass on airfields, and the edges of crops. It occurs at up to at least {{convert|1,750|m|ft|abbr=on}} altitude in South Africa.<ref name="taylor320" /> Each bird stays within a fairly small area.<ref name="BB106" /> Although it sometimes occurs with the African crake, that species normally prefers moister and shorter grassland habitats than does the corn crake.<ref name="taylor316" /> On migration, the corn crake may also occur in wheatfields and around [[golf course]]s.<ref name="taylor320" />