Rails

Nine species in the rail family occur regularly in North America, primarily in wetland habitats. The American coot (Fulica americana) is widespread and common in marshes and other relatively productive wetlands. This species has a grey body and white beak, with a vividly red frontal lobe at the top of the upper mandible, and red-colored eyes. This species chiefly feeds on aquatic vegetation, which it sometimes obtains by diving. Coots can be raucously aggressive to each other, and to other species of aquatic birds. The common gallinule or moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) occurs in marshes of the eastern United States, while the purple gallinule (Porphyrula martinica) is largely restricted to parts of Florida and Louisiana.

Some other less aquatic species of rails can also be fairly common in suitable habitats. However, these birds are very cryptic and tend to hide well in their habitat of tall, reedy marshes, so they are not often seen. One of these elusive species is the sora (Porzana carolina), the whistled calls and whinnies of which are more often heard than the birds are seen. The Virginia rail (Rallus limicola) is another, relatively common but evasive rail of marshes. The largest rail in North America is the king rail (R. elegans), with a body length of 14 in (36 cm), and occurring in marshes in the eastern United States. The clapper rail (Rallus longirostris) is slightly smaller at 12 in (30 cm), and is restricted to brackish and salt marshes.