water rail

water rail (plural water rails)

1. a small wetland bird (Rallus aquaticus) of the family Rallidae that breeds in marshes and reedbeds across Europe and Asia.
   • 1983, Bill Oddie, Gone Birding, London: Methuen, page 57:

     I crawled along the side of the marsh, crouched down quietly in a cow pat and waiter for the Water-rail to appear.

• trailwear, trialware