General
Information is from dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin reflects Mandarin pronunciation; for some dialect names, it is no more than a polite fiction. Korean glosses are tentative. Comments and corrections welcome. Hover over Green Lettering to see additional information.
The general name for the rails in Chinese is 秧鸡 . 秧 means 'seedling'; 鸡 means 'fowl/chicken' or 'fowl'. This term has a respectable history and is found in the Ming-era Compendium of Chinese Materia Medica.
Other names for members of the Rallidae include:
田鸡 'paddy-fowl/chicken', used for various crakes (although the most familiar interpretation for the average Chinese is 'frog meat', which is what it means on Chinese menus).
苦恶鸟 'bitter evil bird' (origin unknown, probably onomatopoeic), used for the White-breasted Waterhen and several other species.
水鸡 'water-fowl/chicken' , used for the Purple Swamp Hen, the Water Rail, and the Moorhen.
The Moorhen and the Coot are interesting for the variety of names used.
The Moorhen Gallinula chloropus is known as 黑水鸡 'black water-fowl/chicken' or 红骨顶 'red bone top'. Taiwan uses as its ornithological name 红冠水鸡 'red-crested water-fowl/chicken'.
The Black Coot Fulica atra is known as the 骨顶鸡 'bone top fowl/chicken' or 白骨顶 'white bone top', the latter a North Chinese term. 白冠鸡 'white-crested fowl/chicken' is used in Taiwan.
Both the Moorhen and the Black Coot are also known as 鷭 , which appears to be a Japanese borrowing.
Regularisation
The use of names by Mainland ornithologists at Porzana and Amaurornis has been regularised (somewhat confused by differences or changes in generic assignments). Taiwanese usage is shown for reference.
Mainland | Taiwan | Notes | |
Coturnicops | 田鸡 'paddy-fowl/chicken' |
- | Coturnicops previously assigned to Porzana. |
Porzana | 田鸡 'paddy-fowl/chicken' 秧鸡 'seedling-fowl/chicken' |
秧鸡 'seedling-fowl/chicken' 田鸡 'paddy-fowl/chicken' |
Taiwan mixes the two names 秧鸡 and 田鸡 . In China, only one source uses 秧鸡 , for Porzana cinerea only. 苦恶鸟 'kǔ-è bird' (onomat.) is used for Porzana bicolor by those who class it as Amaurornis (see below). |
Rallus | 秧鸡 'seedling-fowl/chicken' |
秧鸡 'seedling-fowl/chicken' |
'Common' or unmarked. |
Rallina | 秧鸡 'seedling-fowl/chicken' |
秧鸡 'seedling-fowl/chicken' |
|
Gallirallus | 秧鸡 'seedling-fowl/chicken' |
秧鸡 'seedling-fowl/chicken' |
|
Crex | 秧鸡 'seedling-fowl/chicken' |
- | |
Amaurornis | 苦恶鸟 'kǔ-è bird' (onomat.), written 'bitter-evil bird'. |
秧鸡 'seedling-fowl/chicken' 苦恶鸟 'kǔ-è bird' (onomat.), written 'bitter-evil bird' |
Taiwanese use of 苦恶鸟 is possibly due to Mainland influence |
Gallicrex | 董鸡 |
董鸡 |
|
Porphyrio | 水鸡 'water-fowl/chicken' |
水鸡 'water-fowl/chicken' |
|
Gallinula | 水鸡 'water-fowl/chicken' |
水鸡 'water-fowl/chicken' |
2. Species names
RALLINAE | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH |
CHINESE |
EAST |
SOUTH | NORTH |
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Rallina | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Rallina eurizonoides![]() ![]() |
Slaty-legged crake Banded crake |
白喉斑秧鸡 (白喉斑秧雞) 'white-throated striped seedling-fowl/chicken' |
(灰脚秧鸡) 灰腳秧雞 'grey-legged seedling-fowl/chicken' Taiwan formerly: 灰腿秧鸡 (灰腿秧雞) 'grey-legged seedling-fowl/chicken' |
オオクイナ (大秧鶏 ~ 大水鶏) ō kuina 'large rail' |
Gà nước họng trắng 'white-throated water-fowl/chicken' (12, 13, 34) |
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Coturnicops | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Coturnicops
exquisitus Porzana exquisita ![]() |
Swinhoe's
rail Swinhoe's crake Swinhoe's yellow rail |
Porzana exquisita: 花田鸡 (花田雞) 'flowery paddy-fowl/chicken' |
小翅田鸡 (小翅田雞) 'small-winged paddy-fowl/chicken' |
Porzana exquisita: シマクイナ (縞秧鶏 ~ 縞水鶏) shima kuina 'striped rail' |
알락뜸부기 allak-tteumbugi 'spotted rail' |
Porzana exquisita: Бичилхэн түнжгэр ᠪᠢᠴᠢᠯᠬᠡᠨ ᠲᠦᠨᠵᠢᠭᠡᠷ bichilkheŋ tüŋjger 'small rail (variant form)' Inner M: Цагаан далавчит ханчир ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠳᠠᠯᠠᠪᠴᠢᠲᠣ ᠬᠠᠨᠴᠢᠷ tsagaaŋ dalavchit khanchir 'white-winged rail' (32) |
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Rallus | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Rallus aquaticus Rallina aquatica ![]() |
Western Water Rail | 普通秧鸡 (普通秧雞) 'common seedling-fowl/chicken' Rallus aquaticus korejevi: 新疆亚种 (新疆亞種) 'Xinjiang subspecies' (1) |
クイナ (秧鶏 ~ 水鶏) kuina 'rail' (Shared with Rallus indicus) |
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Rallus indicus![]() |
Eastern Water Rail Brown-cheeked Rail |
Rallus aquaticus: 普通秧鸡 (普通秧雞) 'common seedling-fowl/chicken' Rallus aquaticus indicus: 东北亚种 (東北亞種) 'Northeastern (Manchurian) subspecies' (1) |
(秧鸡) 秧雞 'seedling-fowl/chicken' |
秋鸡 (秋雞) 'autumn fowl/chicken' 水鸡 (水雞) 'water-fowl/chicken' |
Rallus aquaticus: クイナ (秧鶏 ~ 水鶏) kuina 'rail' (Shared with Rallus aquaticus) |
흰눈썹뜸부기 huin-nunsseop-tteumbugi 'white-eyebrowed rail' |
Rallus aquaticus: Gà nước Ấn Độ 'Indian water-fowl/chicken' (12, 34) |
Rallus aquaticus: Усны түнжүүр ᠣᠰᠣᠨ ᠤ ᠲᠦᠨᠵᠢᠭᠦᠷ usni tüŋjüür 'water rail' Inner M: Rallus aquaticus: Ханчир ᠬᠠᠨᠴᠢᠷ khanchir 'rail' (31, 32) |
Lewinia | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Lewinia striata Gallirallus striatus Rallus striatus ![]() |
Slaty-breasted rail Blue-breasted banded rail Banded rail |
Gallirallus striatus: 灰胸秧鸡 (灰胸秧雞) 'grey-breasted seedling-fowl/chicken' (2, 4) 蓝胸秧鸡 (藍胸秧雞) 'blue-breasted seedling-fowl/chicken' (1, 3, 5) |
Gallirallus striatus: (灰胸秧鸡) 灰胸秧雞 'grey-breasted seedling-fowl/chicken' |
Gallirallus striatus: ミナミクイナ (南秧鶏 ~ 南水鶏) minami kuina 'southern rail' |
Gallirallus striatus: Gà nước vằn 'striped water-fowl/chicken' (12, 13, 34) |
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Crex | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Crex crex![]() |
Corncrake Corn crake |
长脚秧鸡 (長腳秧雞) 'long-legged seedling-fowl/chicken' |
ウズラクイナ (鶉秧鶏 ~ 鶉水鶏) uzura kuina 'quail rail' |
Явган түнжин ᠶᠠᠪᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠲᠦᠨᠵᠢᠨ yavgaŋ tüŋjiŋ 'walking rail (variant form)' |
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Porzana | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Porzana porzana![]() |
Spotted crake | 斑胸田鸡 (斑胸田雞) 'stripe-breasted paddy-fowl/chicken' |
(斑胸田鸡) 斑胸田雞 'stripe-breasted paddy-fowl/chicken' |
コモンクイナ (小紋水鶏 ~ 小紋秧鶏) komon kuina 'fine-patterned rail' |
Тоодон түнжгэр ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠳᠣᠩ ᠲᠦᠨᠵᠢᠭᠡᠷ toodoŋ tünjger 'short rail (variant form)' |
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Zapornia | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Zapornia fusca Porzana fusca ![]() ![]() |
Ruddy-breasted crake Ruddy crake |
Porzana fusca: 红胸田鸡 (紅胸田雞) 'red-breasted paddy-fowl/chicken' |
Porzana fusca: (绯秧鸡) 緋秧雞 'scarlet seedling-fowl/chicken' |
Porzana fusca: ヒクイナ (緋秧鶏 ~ 緋水鶏) hi-kuina 'scarlet rail' |
Porzana fusca: 쇠뜸부기사촌 soe-tteumbugi-sachon 'small rail cousin' |
Porzana fusca: Chim Cuốc ngực nâu 'brown-breasted crake' (onomat.) (12, 13, 34) |
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Zapornia paykullii Porzana paykullii Rallina paykullii ![]() |
Band-bellied crake Chestnut-breasted crake |
Porzana paykullii: 斑胁田鸡 (斑脇田雞) 'stripe-flanked paddy-fowl/chicken' (1, 2, 4, 5) 斑肋田鸡 (斑肋田雞) 'stripe-ribbed paddy-fowl/chicken' (3) |
Porzana paykullii: (斑胁田鸡) 斑脇田雞 'stripe-flanked paddy-fowl/chicken' |
斑田鸡 (斑田雞) 'striped paddy-fowl/chicken' |
Porzana paykullii: コウライヒクイナ (高麗緋秧鶏 ~ 高麗緋水鶏) kōrai hi-kuina 'Korean scarlet rail' |
Porzana paykullii: 한국뜸부기 hanguk-tteumbugi 'Korean rail' |
Rallina (Porzana) paykullii: Chim Cuốc nâu 'brown crake (bird)' (onomat.) (12, 13, 34) |
|
Zapornia parva Porzana parva ![]() |
Little crake | Porzana parva: 姬田鸡 (姬田雞) 'lady paddy-fowl/chicken' |
Porzana parva: コクイナ (小秧鶏 ~ 小水鶏) ko kuina 'small rail' |
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Zapornia pusilla Porzana pusilla ![]() |
Baillon's crake | Porzana pusilla: 小田鸡 (小田雞) 'small paddy-fowl/chicken' |
Porzana pusilla: (小秧鸡) 小秧雞 'small seedling-fowl/chicken' |
Porzana pusilla: ヒメクイナ (姫水鶏 ~ 姫秧鶏) hime kuina 'princess rail' |
Porzana pusilla: 쇠뜸부기 soe-tteumbugi 'small rail' |
Porzana pusilla: Chim Cuốc lùn 'dwarf crake (bird)' (onomat.) (12, 13, 34) |
Porzana pusilla: Оодон түнжгэр ᠣᠭᠣᠳᠣᠩ ᠲᠦᠨᠵᠢᠭᠡᠷ oodoŋ tünjger 'short rail (variant form)' Inner M: Бяцхан ханчир ᠪᠢᠴᠢᠬᠠᠨ ᠬᠠᠨᠴᠢᠷ byatskhan khanchir 'little rail' (31, 32) |
|
Zapornia bicolor Porzana bicolor Amaurornis bicolor ![]() |
Black-tailed crake Elwes' crake Rufous-backed crake |
Porzana bicolor: 黑尾苦恶鸟 (黑尾苦惡鳥) 'black-tailed kǔ-è bird' (onomat. kǔ-èis written 'bitter evil') (2, 4) 棕背田鸡 (棕背田雞) 'reddishbrown-backed paddy-fowl/chicken' (1, 3, 5) |
Amaurornis bicolor: オグロクイナ (尾黒秧鶏 ~ 尾黒水鶏) o-guro kuina 'black-tailed rail' |
Amaurornis bicolor: Chim Cuốc ngực xám 'grey-breasted crake (bird)' (onomat.) (12) |
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Amaurornis | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Amaurornis akool![]() |
Brown crake Crimson-legged crake |
红脚苦恶鸟 (紅腳苦惡鳥) 'red-legged kǔ-è bird' (onomat.) |
(红脚苦恶鸟) 紅腳苦惡鳥 'red-legged kǔ-è bird' (onomat.) |
チャバネクイナ (茶羽秧鶏 ~ 茶羽水鶏) cha-bane kuina 'brown-winged rail' |
Chim Cuốc chân đỏ 'red-legged crake (bird)' (onomat.) (12, 13, 34) |
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Amaurornis phoenicurus![]() |
White-breasted waterhen White-breasted water hen |
白胸苦恶鸟 (白胸苦惡鳥) 'white-breasted kǔ-è bird' (onomat.) |
(白腹秧鸡) 白腹秧雞 'white-bellied seedling-fowl/chicken' |
白胸秧鸡 (白胸秧雞) 'white-breasted seedling-fowl/chicken' (7, 31) 苦恶鸟 (苦惡鳥) 'kǔ-è bird' (onomat.) 苦娃子 (苦娃子) 'kuwazi' (onomat.) 白脸秧鸡 (白臉秧雞) 'white-faced seedling-fowl/chicken' 白面鸡 (白面雞) 'white-faced fowl' 白胸黑水鸡 (白胸黑水雞) 'white-breasted black water-fowl/chicken' (='white-breasted moorhen') 姑恶鸡 (姑惡雞) 'mother-in-law evil fowl' (gū-è onomat.) |
シロハラクイナ (白腹秧鶏 ~ 白腹水鶏) shiro-hara kuina 'white-bellied rail' |
흰배뜸부기 huin-bae-tteumbugi 'white-bellied rail' |
Chim Cuốc ngực trắng 'white-breasted crake (bird)' (onomat.) (12, 13, 34) |
Цагааномруут түнжүүхэй ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠨ ᠣᠮᠣᠷᠣᠣᠲᠣ ᠲᠦᠨᠵᠦᠭᠡᠬᠡᠢ tsagaaŋ-omruut tüŋjüükhei 'white-bellied rail (variant form)' Inner M: Шалбаа ханчир ᠱᠠᠯᠪᠠ ᠬᠠᠨᠴᠢᠷ shalbaa khanchir 'marsh rail' (31) or Тарач ᠲᠠᠷᠠᠴᠢ tarach 'waterhen' (alt in 31) |
Amaurornis cinerea Porzana cinerea Poliolimnas cinereus ![]() |
White-browed crake White-browed rail |
Porzana cinerea: 白眉田鸡 (白眉田雞) 'white-eyebrowed paddy-fowl/chicken' (2, 4) 白眉秧鸡 (白眉秧雞) 'white-eyebrowed seedling-fowl/chicken' (3) 灰田鸡 (灰田雞) 'grey paddy-fowl/chicken' (5) |
Porzana cinerea: (白眉秧鸡) 白眉秧雞 'white-eyebrowed seedling-fowl/chicken' |
Poliolimnas cinereus: マミジロクイナ (眉白秧鶏 ~ 眉白水鶏) mami-jiro-kuina 'white-eyebrowed rail' |
Porzana cinerea: Gà nước mày trắng 'white-eyebrowed water-fowl/chicken' (13) |
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Gallicrex | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Gallicrex cinerea![]() |
Watercock Water cock |
董鸡 (董雞) 'dong fowl/chicken' |
(董鸡) 董雞 'dong fowl/chicken' |
ツルクイナ (鶴秧鶏 ~ 鶴水鶏) tsuru-kuina 'crane rail' |
뜸부기 tteumbugi 'rail' |
Gà đồng 'dong fowl/chicken' (12, 13, 34) |
Inner M: Доголон ханчир ᠲᠣᠭᠣᠯᠠᠩ ᠬᠠᠨᠴᠢᠷ dogoloŋ khaŋchir 'lame rail' (31) |
|
Porphyrio | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Porphyrio porphyrio![]() ![]() |
Purple swamphen Purple swamp hen Purple moorhen Sultan hen Purple coot Blue coot Swamp hen Purple gallinule |
紫水鸡 (紫水雞) 'purple water-fowl/chicken' |
(紫水鸡) 紫水雞 'purple water-fowl/chicken' |
セイケイ (青鶏) seikei 'blue/green fowl' |
Chim Xít 'xít bird' (onomat.) (12, 13, 34) |
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Gallinula | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Gallinula chloropus![]() |
Common moorhen Moorhen Common gallinule |
黑水鸡 (黑水雞) 'black water-fowl/chicken' or 红骨顶 (紅骨頂) 'red bone top' (alt in 1, 3, 5) |
(红冠水鸡) 紅冠水雞 'red-crested water-fowl/chicken' |
小鷭 (小鷭) 'small fan' |
バン (鷭) ban 'moorhen' |
쇠물닭 soe-mul-dalg 'small water-fowl/chicken' |
Chim Kịch 'kịch bird' (onomat.) (12, 13, 34) |
Хажилгат ханчир ᠬᠠᠵᠢᠯᠠᠭᠠᠲᠣ ᠬᠠᠨᠴᠢᠷ khajilgat khaŋchir 'fringed (?) moorhen' Inner M: Мэлзэн харгууна ᠮᠡᠯᠵᠡᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠠᠭᠣᠨᠠ melzen kharguun 'bald coot' (31, 32) |
Fulica | ||||||||
Latin |
English |
Chinese |
Chinese (Taiwan) |
Other Ch |
Japanese |
Korean |
Vietnamese |
Mongolian |
Fulica atra![]() ![]() |
Common coot Eurasian coot Black coot Coot |
白骨顶 (白骨頂) 'white bone top' or 骨顶鸡 (骨頂雞) 'bone top fowl' (alt in 1, 3) |
(白冠鸡) 白冠雞 'white-crested fowl' |
大鷭 (大鷭) 'large fan' 水姑顶 (水姑頂) 'water mother-in-law top' (northern) 水姑丁 (水姑丁) 'water mother-in-law ding' (northern) 冬鸡 (冬雞) 'winter fowl' (southern) (31) |
オオバン (大鷭) ō ban 'large moorhen' |
물닭 mul-dalg 'water-fowl/chicken' |
Chim Sâm cầm 'sâm cầm bird' (cầm = 'bird') (12, 13, 34) |
Халзан түнжүү ᠬᠠᠯᠵᠠᠨ ?? khalzaŋ tüŋjüü 'bald-foreheaded rail (variant form)' Inner M: Халзан харгууна ᠬᠠᠯᠵᠠᠨ ᠬᠠᠷᠠᠭᠣᠨᠠ khalzaŋ kharguun 'bald-foreheaded coot' (31, 32) |