Although named for the Gruidae (cranes), a small 15 species family of very large birds, most Gruiformes belong to the Rallidae (crakes and rails), a large family of mostly medium-sized waterbirds with nearly 150 members. Australia has two crane species; Sri Lanka none. There are 14 rallidae species in Australia (15 if you count the White-breasted Waterhens which have recently self-introduced to Christmas Island) and 9 in Sri Lanka. Two species are shared; the Eurasian Coot (uncommon in Sri Lanka, ubiquitous in Australia) and Bailon’s Crake, or three species counting the White-breasted Waterhen. As is often the case, there are several ’near misses’ - species which are very similar and familiar, and yet delightfully different. The crakes are (as always!) very crake-like; the Common Moorhen is very like the familiar Dusky, and the Grey-headed Swamphen is very different to the much larger, thicker-set, and darker Australiasian Swamphen. It is extraordinary to think that these two were regarded as part of the same species until recently.