What is Marsh crake?
{{Speciesbox | image = | status = D | status_ref =<ref name=GOV /> | status_system = NZTCS | taxon = Porzana pusilla affinis | authority | range_map = |synonyms=*''Zapornia pusilla affinis '' | synonyms_ref= }} The '''marsh crake''' or '''koitareke''' (''Porzana pusilla affinis'') is a bird in the family [[Gruiformes]]. It is a subspecies of [[Baillon's crake]]. It lives in [[New Zealand]].<ref name=GOV>{{cite web|url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/marsh-crake-koitareke/|accessdate=September 15, 2021|publisher=New Zealand Department of Conservation|title=Marsh crake/koitareke}}</ref><ref name=NZB>{{cite web|url=https://nzbirdsonline.org.nz/species/marsh-crake|publisher=New Zealand Birds Online|accessdate=September 15, 2021|title=Marsh crake: ''Porzana pusilla'' (Pallas, 1776)}}</ref><ref name=BLA>{{cite web|accessdate=September 16, 2021|publisher=Birdlife Australia|title=Baillon’s Crake: ''Porzana pusilla''|url=https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/baillons-crake|archive-date=September 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916063307/https://birdlife.org.au/bird-profile/baillons-crake|url-status=dead}}</ref> ==Appearance== The marsh crake is about half the size of a [[blackbird]]. It is about 15-18 cm long and it weighs 30 to 40 grams. It has a short tail and long legs. The feathers on its back are deep brown with black and white marks. The feathers on its belly are gray and white. Its eyes are bright red. Its beak and legs are green. The young birds have brown bellies instead of gray and white.<ref name=GOV /> ==Habitat and food== Marsh crakes live in wetlands, for example [[marsh]]es. They also live among the [[reed]] plants in [[estuary|places where rivers meet the ocean]]. They can live on wet [[pasture]]s and [[willow]] tree forests too. There are more marsh crakes on New Zealand's South Island than on North Island.<ref name=GOV /> Scientists do not know much about what the marsh crake does. They think it might [[migrate]] like other Baillon's c