General names
The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections are welcome.
Note on Vietnamese naming: With the exception of ducks and chickens, it is common for Vietnamese bird names to be preceded by the word Chim meaning 'bird', although it is normally omitted in Vietnamese bird lists. All bird names, whether they include chim or not, can be preceded by the classifier con, which is used for living creatures.
The Rallidae are known in Vietnamese by a number of names. The rails are known simply as Gà nước 'water-fowl/chicken'. The crakes are known as Chim cuốc (also Chim quốc), which derives from their cry of cuoc cuoc during the summer months. Curiously, the crakes are also known as Chim đỗ quyên, from Chinese 杜鵑 meaning 'cuckoo'. Originally Đỗ quyên referred to the cuckoos in Vietnamese, but for some reason later came to be used for the crakes. The word đỗ vũ, borrowed from Chinese 杜宇 and also originally meaning 'cuckoo', suffered a similar fate.
Several species of rallids have their own individual names.
- Gà đồng, the name of the Water Cock, is related to the Chinese name 董雞 'dong fowl/chicken'. The Water Cock is also known as Chim Cúm núm 'timorous bird'.
- Chim sâm cầm refers to the Black Coot.
- The Moorhen is known as the Chim kịch (although this term is not listed in ordinary dictionaries).
- The Purple Swamp Hen is normally known as the Chim trích, although naturalists call it the Chim xít. Possibly Trích was passed over for fear of confusion with Chích 'warbler', which has the same pronunciation in the standard Hanoi dialect.
The names assigned by naturalists to rallid genera are as follows:
| Vietnamese name | Genera |
| Gà nước 'water-fowl/chicken' |
Rails (Rallina, Gallirallus) One type of crake (Amaurornis phoenicurus) (as per Nguyen, Le and Phillipps) |
| Cuốc |
Crakes (Amaurornis, Porzana) |
| Gà đồng 'dong fowl/chicken' |
Water Cock (Gallicrex) |
| Sâm cầm |
Black Coot (Fulica) |
| Xít |
Purple Swamp Hen (Porphyrio) |
| Kịch |
Moorhen (Gallinula) |
Cultural:
Vietnamese has the expression Lủi như cuốc, 'Steal away like a crake', a reference to the quiet, secretive movements of these birds.
Chữ Nôm
Characters used for rallids in the now obsolete Chữ Nôm characters include:
| Name | Chữ Nôm Images from the Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation dictionary. (Errors are the sole responsibility of the author of this site) |
| Gà nước |   |
| Cuốc |  ;  ;  |
| Trích |  |
Species names
ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see) SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN |
VIETNAMESE |
EAST ASIAN |
S. E. ASIAN |
|||||
| Rallina | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese (incl. Taiwan) |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
Rallina fasciata |
Red-legged crake Red-legged banded crake Râle barré |
Gà nước họng nâu 'brown-throated water-fowl/chicken' |
红腿斑秧鸡 (紅腿斑秧雞) 'red-legged striped seedling-fowl/chicken' Taiwan: (红脚秧鸡) 紅腳秧雞 'red-legged seedling-fowl/chicken' Taiwan former official: (红腿秧鸡) 紅腿秧雞 'red-legged seedling-fowl/chicken' |
ナンヨウオオクイナ (南洋大秧鶏 ~ 南洋大水鶏) nan-yō ō kuina 'southern seas large rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese) |
นกอัญชันป่าขาแดง nók an-cʰan pàa kʰăa-daeeŋ 'red-legged forest rail (bird)' |
Burung Sintar Api 'fire rail (bird)' (24, 25, 26) |
Burung Tikusan Ceruling 'ceruling mouse-bird' |
|
| Rallina eurizonoides |
Slaty-legged crake Banded crake Râle de forêt |
Gà nước họng trắng 'white-throated water-fowl/chicken' |
白喉斑秧鸡 (白喉斑秧雞) 'white-throated striped seedling-fowl/chicken' Taiwan: (灰脚秧鸡) 灰腳秧雞 'grey-legged seedling-fowl/chicken' Taiwan former official: (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' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese) |
นกอัญชันป่าขาเทา nók an-cʰan pàa kʰăa-tʰaw 'grey-legged rail (bird)' |
Burung Sintar Merah 'red rail (bird)' (24, 25, 26) |
Burung Tikusan Kaki-kelabu 'grey-legged mouse-bird' |
|
| Gallirallus | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese (incl. Taiwan) |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Gallirallus striatus Rallus striatus |
Slaty-breasted rail Blue-breasted banded rail Banded rail Râle strié |
Gà nước vằn 'striped water-fowl/chicken' |
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) Taiwan: (灰胸秧鸡) 灰胸秧雞 'grey-breasted seedling-fowl/chicken' |
ミナミクイナ (南秧鶏 ~ 南水鶏) minami kuina 'southern rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese) |
นกอัญชันอกสีเทา nók an-cʰan òk-sĭi-tʰaw 'grey-breasted rail (bird)' |
Burung Sintar 'rail (bird)' (24, 26) Burung Sintar Biasa 'common rail (bird)' (25) |
Burung Mandar-padi Sintar 'rail paddy-swamphen (bird)' |
|
| Rallus | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese (incl. Taiwan) |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Rallus aquaticus Rallina aquatica |
Water rail Râle d'eau |
Gà nước Ấn Độ 'Indian water-fowl/chicken' Gà nước 'water-fowl/chicken' (13) |
普通秧鸡 (普通秧雞) 'common seedling-fowl/chicken' Taiwan: (秧鸡) 秧雞 'seedling-fowl/chicken' |
クイナ (秧鶏 ~ 水鶏) kuina 'rail' (written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese) |
นกอัญชันอกสีไพล nók an-cʰan òk-sĭi-pʰlay 'olivaceous-breasted rail (bird)' |
Burung Sintar Air 'water rail (bird)' |
||
| Amaurornis | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese (incl. Taiwan) |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Amaurornis akool |
Brown crake Crimson-legged crake Râle akool |
Chim Cuốc chân đỏ 'red-legged crake (bird)' (onomat.) |
红脚苦恶鸟 (紅腳苦惡鳥) 'red-legged kǔ-è bird' (onomat. kǔ-è is written 'bitter evil') Taiwan: (红脚苦恶鸟) 紅腳苦惡鳥 'red-legged kǔ-è bird' (onomat. kǔ-è is written 'bitter evil') |
チャバネクイナ (茶羽秧鶏 ~ 茶羽水鶏) cha-bane kuina 'brown-winged rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese) |
||||
| Amaurornis phoenicurus |
White-breasted waterhen White-breasted water hen Râle à poitrine blanche |
Chim Cuốc ngực trắng 'white-bellied crake (bird)' (onomat.) |
白胸苦恶鸟 (白胸苦惡鳥) 'white-breasted kǔ-è bird' (onomat. kǔ-è is written 'bitter evil') Taiwan: (白腹秧鸡) 白腹秧雞 'white-bellied seedling-fowl/chicken' |
シロハラクイナ (白腹秧鶏 ~ 白腹水鶏) shiro-hara kuina 'white-bellied rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese) |
นกกวัก nók kwàk 'kwàk bird' (onomat.) |
Burung Ruak-Ruak 'ruak-ruak bird' (onomat.) (24, 25, 26) |
Burung Kareo Padi 'paddy waterhen (bird)' |
|
| Porzana | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese (incl. Taiwan) |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Porzana bicolor Amaurornis bicolor |
Black-tailed crake Elwes' crake Rufous-backed crake Râle bicolore |
Chim Cuốc ngực xám 'grey-bellied crake (bird)' (onomat.) |
黑尾苦恶鸟 (黑尾苦惡鳥) 'black-tailed kue bird' (onomat. ku-e is written 'bitter evil') (2, 4) 棕背田鸡 (棕背田雞) 'reddishbrown-backed paddy-fowl/chicken' (1, 3, 5) |
オグロクイナ (尾黒秧鶏 ~ 尾黒水鶏) o-guro kuina 'black-tailed rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese) |
นกอัญชันหางดำ nók an-cʰan hăaŋ-dam 'black-tailed rail (bird)' |
|||
| Porzana pusilla |
Baillon's crake Marouette de Baillon |
Chim Cuốc lùn 'dwarf crake (bird)' (onomat.) |
小田鸡 (小田雞) 'small paddy-fowl/chicken' Taiwan: (小秧鸡) 小秧雞 'small seedling-fowl/chicken' |
ヒメクイナ (姫水鶏 ~ 姫秧鶏) hime kuina 'princess rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese) |
นกอัญชันเล็ก nók an-cʰan lék 'small rail (bird)' |
Burung Sintar Kecil 'small rail (bird)' (24, 25, 26) |
Burung Tikusan Kerdil 'dwarf mouse-bird' |
|
| Porzana fusca |
Ruddy-breasted crake Ruddy crake Marouette brune |
Chim Cuốc ngực nâu 'brown-bellied crake (bird)' (onomat.) |
红胸田鸡 (紅胸田雞) 'red-breasted paddy-fowl/chicken' Taiwan: (绯秧鸡) 緋秧雞 'scarlet seedling-fowl/chicken' |
ヒクイナ (緋秧鶏 ~ 緋水鶏) hi-kuina 'scarlet rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese) |
นกหนูแดง nók nŭu daeeŋ 'red mouse-bird' |
Burung Sintar Belacan 'speckled rail (bird)' (24, 25, 26) |
Burung Tikusan Merah 'red mouse-bird' |
|
| Porzana paykullii Rallina paykullii |
Band-bellied crake Chestnut-breasted crake Marouette mandarin |
Chim Cuốc nâu 'brown crake (bird)' (onomat.) |
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) Taiwan: (斑胁田鸡) 斑脇田雞 'stripe-flanked paddy-fowl/chicken' |
コウライヒクイナ (高麗緋秧鶏 ~ 高麗緋水鶏) kōrai hi-kuina 'Korean scarlet rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese) |
นกอัญชันจีน nók an-cʰan ciin 'Chinese rail (bird)' |
Burung Sintar Jalur 'striped rail (bird)' (26) Burung Sintar Berjalur 'striped rail (bird)' (24) Burung Sintar Cina 'Chinese rail (bird)' (25) |
Burung Tikusan Siberia 'Siberian mouse-bird' |
|
| Porzana cinerea |
White-browed crake White-browed rail Marouette grise |
Gà nước mày trắng 'white-eyebrowed water fowl/chicken' (13) |
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) Taiwan: (白眉秧鸡) 白眉秧雞 'white-eyebrowed seedling-fowl/chicken' |
マミジロクイナ (眉白秧鶏 ~ 眉白水鶏) mami-jiro-kuina 'white-eyebrowed rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese) |
นกอัญชันคิ้วขาว nók an-cʰan kʰíw-kʰăaw 'white-eyebrowed rail (bird)' |
Burung Sintar Kening Putih 'white-eyebrowed rail (bird)' (26) Burung Sintar Dahi Putih 'white-foreheaded rail (bird)' (25) Burung Sintar Dahi Puteh 'white-foreheaded rail (bird)' (24) |
Burung Tikusan Alis-putih 'white-eyebrowed mouse-bird' |
|
| Gallicrex | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese (incl. Taiwan) |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Gallicrex cinerea |
Watercock Water cock Râle à crête |
Gà đồng 'dong fowl/chicken' |
Chim Cúm núm 'timorous bird' |
董鸡 (董雞) 'dong fowl/chicken' Taiwan: (董鸡) 董雞 'dong fowl/chicken' |
ツルクイナ (鶴秧鶏 ~ 鶴水鶏) tsuru-kuina 'crane rail' (kuina written 1. 'seedling-fowl/chicken' or 2. 'water-fowl/chicken', from Chinese) |
นกอีลุ้ม nók ii-lúm 'watercock (bird)' |
Burung Ayam-ayam 'watercock (bird)' (ayam-ayam is the dimunitive of ayam 'fowl/chicken') (24, 25, 26) |
Burung Mandar Bontod 'bontod swamphen bird' |
| Porphyrio | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese (incl. Taiwan) |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Porphyrio porphyrio |
Purple swamphen Purple swamp hen Purple moorhen Sultan hen Purple coot Blue coot Swamp hen Purple gallinule Talève sultane |
Chim Xít 'xit bird' (onomat.) |
Chim trích 'trich bird' |
紫水鸡 (紫水雞) 'purple water-fowl/chicken' Taiwan: (紫水鸡) 紫水雞 'purple water-fowl/chicken' |
セイケイ (青鶏) seikei 'blue fowl/chicken' (Chinese-style compound) |
นกอีโก้ง nók ii-kôoŋ 'swamphen (bird)' |
Burung Pangling 'swamphen (bird)' (24, 25, 26) |
Burung Mandar Besar 'large swamphen (bird)' |
| Gallinula | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese (incl. Taiwan) |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Gallinula chloropus |
Common moorhen Moorhen Common gallinule Gallinule poule-d'eau |
Chim Kịch 'kịch bird' |
黑水鸡 (黑水雞) 'black water-fowl/chicken' or 红骨顶 (紅骨頂) 'red bone top' (Alternative in 1, 3, 5) Taiwan: (红冠水鸡) 紅冠水雞 'red-crested water-fowl/chicken' |
バン (鷭) ban 'coot' |
นกอีล้ำ nók ii-lám 'moorhen (bird)' |
Burung Tiong Air 'water mynah (bird)' (24, 25, 26) |
Burung Mandar Batu 'rock swamphen (bird)' |
|
| Fulica | ||||||||
Latin |
English/French |
Vietnamese |
Other V |
Chinese (incl. Taiwan) |
Japanese |
Thai |
Malaysian |
Indonesian |
| Fulica atra |
Common coot or Eurasian coot Black coot Coot Foulque macroule |
Chim Sâm cầm 'sâm cầm bird' (cầm = 'bird') |
白骨顶 (白骨頂) 'white bone top' or 骨顶鸡 (骨頂雞) 'bone top fowl' (Alternative in 1, 3) Taiwan: (白冠鸡) 白冠雞 'white-crested fowl' |
オオバン (大鷭) ō ban 'large coot' |
นกคู้ต nók kʰúut 'coot (bird)' (kʰúut from English 'coot') |
Burung Pangling Hitam 'black swamphen (bird)' (24, 25, 26) |
Burung Mandar Hitam 'black swamphen (bird)' |
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