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Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

13 Bird Species

American Coot

A small, dark, duck-like rail. Adults solid charcoal gray with a white, chicken-like bill, red or white forehead, and pale yellow legs with large feet and large lobed toes. Juveniles have paler bellies, gray legs and feet and a grayer bill. Very similar to Eurasian and Caribbean Coots. Larger and les more...

Length: 39 cm Wingspan: 61 cm

Black Rail

This is the smallest rail in North America. Two races occur here: the smaller and more brightly colored California Black Rail, and the larger, darker Eastern Black Rail. Adult: Very small and short-billed. Blackish gray overall, with a chestnut patch on the nape, brownish wash on the back, white spot more...

Length: 10 cm Wingspan: 22 cm

Clapper Rail

Formerly considered conspecific with Ridgway's Rail of the Pacific Coast and the more southerly Aztec Rail, which is endemic to central Mexico. A relatively large rail of coastal regions. Adult has orange head and breast, variable gray to near black belly and flanks with evenly spaced vertical white more...

Length: 37 cm Wingspan: 48 cm

Common Gallinule

A coot-like waterbird. Alternate adult has gray body, dark brown back, blackish head, white undertail coverts, white edging along flanks, and bright red bill with yellow tip. Base of bill rises shield-like in front of forehead. Legs are greenish-yellow. Basic adult lacks shield, has dusky bill with y more...

Length: 36 cm Wingspan: 53 cm

Corn Crake

A largish, brown short-billed rail. Male: Gray face and grayish breast with streaked buffy-brown sides. Dark crown and stubby, pale bill. White belly with bold brown bars on sides. Reddish-brown shoulders. Feathers on upperparts are dark with broad creamy edges. Pale pinkish legs. Female and juvenil more...

Length: 28 cm Wingspan: 48 cm

Eurasian Coot

All dark bird in the rail family. Adult: Pure black head with slightly paler grayish-black body and wings. Red eye. White bill and white frontal shield on forehead. Long yellow-green legs and extremely long toes. In flight, shows feet protruding beyond tail tip. Juvenile is similar to adult, but has more...

Length: 36 cm Wingspan: 70 cm

King Rail

This large rail is very similar to Clapper Rail, but shows minor differences in plumage and inhabits freshwater marshes, not the saltwater habitats preferred by Clapper. The feathers of the upperparts are blackish with broad edges of olive-brown to dark buff, creating a distinctly streaked pattern. T more...

Length: 38 cm Wingspan: 51 cm

Paint-billed Crake

Small rail with brownish upper parts and charcoal gray underparts. Red bill with yellow tip. Red eye. Red legs. Adult: Small head with white throat. Dark gray face, neck and underparts with alternated gray and white vertical stripes on lower flanks and undertail coverts. Continuous brown nape and hin more...

Length: 20 cm Wingspan: 30 cm

Purple Gallinule

This colorful rail is usually found among floating vegetation in southeastern wetlands. Purple Gallinules appear more slender and longer-winged than similar Common Moorhen. Adult: The head and underparts are bluish-purple, except for the bright white undertail coverts. Upperparts are green, with blui more...

Length: 27 cm Wingspan: 53 cm

Sora

This little rail is best noted for its whinnying call. Alternate Adult: Upperparts are brown and black, with white feather edges creating tiny white speckles. Much of the head and breast are gray, with black covering the face and throat. The bill is short, thick and pale yellow. The sides are heavily more...

Length: 20 cm Wingspan: 30 cm

Spotted Rail

A large dark Central and South American rail with heavily-spotted underparts and head. Pinkish-red legs are short and thick. Yellow-green bill is comparatively long, thick, and slightly decurved; bill has red spot at the base. Adult: Brownish-black upperparts with extensive white spotting. Black unde more...

Length: 26 cm Wingspan: cm

Virginia Rail

This medium-sized rail is fairly common, but rarely ventures away from heavy cover. The long reddish-orange bill and legs are distinctive. Upperparts are dark brown with rufous feather edges. The wing coverts are rich chestnut. Gray cheeks contrast with the dark crown and bright rufous underparts. Th more...

Length: 22 cm Wingspan: 33 cm

Yellow Rail

This highly secretive, small (thrush-sized) rail is more often heard than seen. Adult is golden-yellow and black overall with black-and-yellow striped wings, black belly, yellow head and breast, black eye patch and crown, and clean yellow bill. Juvenile has blackish nape with fine yellow spots and bl more...

Length: 18 cm Wingspan: 28 cm