Adults have yellowish legs and a long straight dark bill.

The short, straight bill, legs and feet are black and the iris is dark brown.

They have a large, straight bill with a distinctive hook at the end which is used to skewer prey.

Adults have short greenish-grey legs and a long straight dark bill.

The Little Crake has a short straight bill, yellow with a red base.

The short straight bill and the legs and feet are black.

Both sexes have violet blue untertail-coverts and a straight black bill.

Both sexes have a white post-ocular spot and a straight black bill.

Baillon's Crake has a short straight bill, yellow or green without a red base.

Further common features of all species are the straight black bill and the slightly to deeply forked tail.