Christopher Taylor Bird Nature Wildlife Mammal Photography
bird photography
GALLERIES > BIRDS > GRUIFORMES > RALLIDAE > KING RAIL [Rallus elegans]

King Rail Picture
 
 

bird photography

SPECIES INFO

The King Rail, Rallus elegans, is a waterbird, the largest North American rail.

Distinct features are a long bill with a slight downward curve, with adults being brown on the back and rusty-brown on the face and breast with a dark brown cap. They also have a white throat and a light belly with barred flanks. Immature birds are light brown on the head and darker brown on the back and wings.

They breed in marshes in eastern North America. The nest is a raised platform built with marsh vegetation and covered by a canopy. The King Rail interbreeds with the Clapper Rail where their ranges overlap; some researchers believe that these two birds belong to the same species.

Birds along the southeastern coasts of the United States are permanent residents. Other birds migrate to the southern United States and Mexico; in Canada, they are found in southern Ontario.

These birds forage in shallow water near cover and mainly eat aquatic insects and crustaceans.

These birds are still common in some coastal areas, although interior populations have declined due to habitat loss.

This bird's most common call is a low grunt.






nature photography
king_rail's Range Map Click here to see the King Rail's range map!
Listen to the King Rail Call:



HOME · ABOUT ME · GALLERY · STOCKLIST · VIDEO · SEARCH · PRESS · CONTACT · BLOG · NEW STUFF
nature photography
All images and video © Copyright 2006-2024 Christopher Taylor, Content and maps by their respective owner. All rights reserved.
nature photography