Rails, Coots

King Rail, Rallus elegans

Family Rallidae (Rails, Coots)

Size: 15"

Season: Summer

Habitat: Freshwater marshes, fields, occasionally brackish wetlands

Endangered in some regions, the king rail is a large, secretive rail of primarily freshwater habitats. The very similar clapper rail is found mostly in brackish areas. It is shaped just like the clapper rail with a long, stout bill, short tail and wings, and a thin, chicken-like body. The coloration is similar too, but the king has bolder, black barring on the lower flanks, and an orange-brown cast overall (not grayish). King rails skulk through tall grasses, sedges, or cattails, searching for a wide variety of prey including insects, crustaceans, fish, and plants. Its voice is a series of sharp, raspy, metallic kek notes or a singe note followed by a trill. The adult is illustrated.