Rallidae – Rails, Crakes, Gallinules & Coots etc.
The Rallidae, commonly ‘rails’, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes rails, crakes, coots, swamphens and gallinules. Many species are associated with wetlands, although the family is found in every terrestrial habitat except dry deserts, polar regions and alpine areas above the snow line.
Members of the Rallidae are found on every continent except Antarctica. There are numerous island species. The most common habitats are marshland or dense forest. Rails are especially fond of dense vegetation. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. Reed beds are a particularly favoured habitat. They are omnivorous, and those that migrate do so at night: most nest in dense vegetation. In general, they are shy and secretive birds, and are difficult to observe.
Most species walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and although they are generally weak fliers, they are, nevertheless, capable of covering long distances.
Island species often become flightless, and many of them are now extinct following the introduction of terrestrial predators such as cats, rats and pigs.
Many reedbed species are secretive (apart from loud calls), crepuscular, and have laterally flattened bodies. In the Old World, long-billed species tend to be called rails and short-billed species crakes. North American species are normally called rails irrespective of bill length.
The larger species are also sometimes given other names. The black coots are more adapted to open water than their relatives, and some other large species are called gallinules and swamp hens.
The rails have suffered disproportionally from human changes to the environment and it is estimated that several hundred species of island rail have become extinct because of this. Several island species of rail remain endangered and conservation organisations and governments continue to work to prevent their extinction.
Species List
According to the IOC there are 134 extant species of Rallidae (Rails, Crakes, Coots & Gallinules), which are:
Nkulengu Rail Himantornis haematopus
Swinhoe’s Rail Coturnicops exquisitus
Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis
Speckled Rail Coturnicops notatus
Ocellated Crake Micropygia schomburgkii
Chestnut Forest Rail Rallicula rubra
White-striped Forest Rail Rallicula leucospila
Forbes’s Forest Rail Rallicula forbesi
Mayr’s Forest Rail Rallicula mayri
Red-necked Crake Rallina tricolor
Andaman Crake Rallina canningi
Red-legged Crake Rallina fasciata
Slaty-legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides
Chestnut-headed Crake Anurolimnas castaneiceps
Russet-crowned Crake Laterallus viridis
Black-banded Crake Laterallus fasciatus
Rufous-sided Crake Laterallus melanophaius
Rusty-flanked Crake Laterallus levraudi
Ruddy Crake Laterallus ruber
White-throated Crake Laterallus albigularis
Grey-breasted Crake Laterallus exilis
Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
Galapagos Crake Laterallus spilonota
Red-and-white Crake Laterallus leucopyrrhus
Rufous-faced Crake Laterallus xenopterus
Woodford’s Rail Nesoclopeus woodfordi
Weka Gallirallus australis
Calayan Rail Gallirallus calayanensis
New Caledonian Rail Gallirallus lafresnayanus
Lord Howe Woodhen Gallirallus sylvestris
Okinawa Rail Gallirallus okinawae
Barred Rail Gallirallus torquatus
Pink-legged Rail Gallirallus insignis
Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
Guam Rail Gallirallus owstoni
Roviana Rail Gallirallus rovianae
Slaty-breasted Rail Gallirallus striatus
Mangrove Rail Rallus longirostris
Clapper Rail Rallus crepitans
Ridgway’s Rail Rallus obsoletus
King Rail Rallus elegans
Aztec Rail Rallus tenuirostris
Plain-flanked Rail Rallus wetmorei
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
Ecuadorian Rail Rallus aequatorialis
Bogota Rail Rallus semiplumbeus
Austral Rail Rallus antarcticus
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus
Brown-cheeked Rail Rallus indicus
African Rail Rallus caerulescens
Madagascan Rail Rallus madagascariensis
Brown-banded Rail Lewinia mirifica
Lewin’s Rail Lewinia pectoralis
Auckland Rail Lewinia muelleri
White-throated Rail Dryolimnas cuvieri
African Crake Crex egregia
Corn Crake Crex crex
Rouget’s Rail Rougetius rougetii
Snoring Rail Aramidopsis plateni
Inaccessible Island Rail Atlantisia rogersi
Little Wood Rail Aramides mangle
Rufous-necked Wood Rail Aramides axillaris
Grey-necked Wood Rail Aramides cajaneus
Rufous-naped Wood Rail Aramides albiventris
Brown Wood Rail Aramides wolfi
Giant Wood Rail Aramides ypecaha
Slaty-breasted Wood Rail Aramides saracura
Red-winged Wood Rail Aramides calopterus
Uniform Crake Amaurolimnas concolor
Blue-faced Rail Gymnocrex rosenbergii
Talaud Rail Gymnocrex talaudensis
Bare-eyed Rail Gymnocrex plumbeiventris
Brown Crake Amaurornis akool
Isabelline Bush-hen Amaurornis isabellina
Plain Bush-hen Amaurornis olivacea
Pale-vented Bush-hen Amaurornis moluccana
Talaud Bush-hen Amaurornis magnirostris
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra
Sakalava Rail Amaurornis olivieri
Black-tailed Crake Porzana bicolor
Little Crake Porzana parva
Baillon’s Crake Porzana pusilla
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Australian Crake Porzana fluminea
Sora Porzana carolina
Dot-winged Crake Porzana spiloptera
Ash-throated Crake Porzana albicollis
Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca
Band-bellied Crake Porzana paykullii
Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis
Henderson Crake Porzana atra
Yellow-breasted Crake Porzana flaviventer
White-browed Crake Porzana cinerea
Striped Crake Aenigmatolimnas marginalis
Zapata Rail Cyanolimnas cerverai
Colombian Crake Neocrex colombiana
Paint-billed Crake Neocrex erythrops
Spotted Rail Pardirallus maculatus
Blackish Rail Pardirallus nigricans
Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus
Chestnut Rail Eulabeornis castaneoventris
Invisible Rail Habroptila wallacii
New Guinea Flightless Rail Megacrex inepta
Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
Western Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis
Grey-headed Swamphen Porphyrio poliocephalus
Black-backed Swamphen Porphyrio indicus
Philippine Swamphen Porphyrio pulverulentus
Australasian Swamphen Porphyrio melanotus
South Island Takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri
Allen’s Gallinule Porphyrio alleni
Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica
Azure Gallinule Porphyrio flavirostris
Makira Woodhen Gallinula silvestris
Gough Moorhen Gallinula comeri
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
Lesser Moorhen Paragallinula angulata
Spot-flanked Gallinule Porphyriops melanops
Black-tailed Nativehen Tribonyx ventralis
Tasmanian Nativehen Tribonyx mortierii
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
Hawaiian Coot Fulica alai
American Coot Fulica americana
White-winged Coot Fulica leucoptera
Andean Coot Fulica ardesiaca
Red-gartered Coot Fulica armillata
Red-fronted Coot Fulica rufifrons
Giant Coot Fulica gigantea
Horned Coot Fulica cornuta
Species Links
-
(African) Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris
Species AccountThe black crake (Amaurornis flavirostra) is a waterbird in the rail and crake family, Rallidae. It breeds in most of sub-Saharan Africa except in very arid areas. It undertakes some seasonal movements in those parts of its range which are subject to drought. No subspecies have been described. -
(African) Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris
IUCN Species StatusBlack Crake Zapornia flavirostra has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Zapornia flavirostra is listed as Least Concern. -
(African) Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
American Coot Fulica americana
Species AccountThe American coot (Fulica americana), also known as a mud hen, is a bird of the family Rallidae. Though commonly mistaken to be ducks, American coots belong to a distinct order. Unlike the webbed feet of ducks, coots have broad, lobed scales on their lower legs and toes that fold back with each step in order to facilitate walking on dry land. -
American Coot Fulica americana
Cornell Species AccountThe waterborne American Coot is one good reminder that not everything that floats is a duck. A close look at a coot—that small head, those scrawny legs—reveals a different kind of bird entirely. -
American Coot Fulica americana
IUCN Species StatusAmerican Coot Fulica americana has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Fulica americana is listed as Least Concern. -
American Coot Fulica americana
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
American Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica
Species AccountThe purple gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) is a "swamp hen" in the rail family, Rallidae. Also known locally as the yellow-legged gallinule.[2] The genus name Porphyrio is the Latin for "swamphen", and martinica is "of Martinique". -
American Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica
Cornell Species AccountA beautifully colored bird of southern and tropical wetlands, the Purple Gallinule can be see walking on top of floating vegetation or clambering through dense shrubs. Its extremely long toes help it walk on lily pads without sinking. -
American Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica
IUCN Species StatusPurple Gallinule Porphyrio martinicus has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Porphyrio martinicus is listed as Least Concern. -
Austral Rail Rallus antarcticus
Species AccountThe austral rail (Rallus antarcticus) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is found in Argentina and Chile. Its natural habitats are swamps, freshwater lakes, and freshwater marshes. It is threatened by habitat loss. -
Austral Rail Rallus antarcticus
Cornell Species AccountThis rail had essentially been lost to science. After 1958 there were no more records of it from either Chile or Argentina and some contemplated the species had gone extinct. It was rediscovered in 1998 and its voice was recorded. Playback has allowed the Austral Rail to be located in various places ranging from Magallanes, Chile to the Valdez Peninsula in Chubut, Argentina. -
Austral Rail Rallus antarcticus
IUCN Species StatusAustral Rail Rallus antarcticus has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2021. Rallus antarcticus is listed as Vulnerable under criteria C2a(ii). -
Austral Rail Rallus antarcticus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Australasian Swamphen (Pukeko) Porphyrio melanotus
Species AccountThe Purple Swamphen is a large rail. It is mainly dusky black above, with a broad dark blue collar, and dark blue to purple below. As the Purple Swamphen walks, it flicks its tail up and down, revealing its white undertail. The bill is red and robust, and the legs and feet orange-red. -
Australasian Swamphen (Pukeko) Porphyrio melanotus
Species AccountI have come to the conclusion that Pukeko are suicidal. I so often see them on the side of the road, dithering, darting backwards and forwards, looking for an opportunity to cross, only to come back later to see them squashed on the road… -
Australasian Swamphen (Pukeko) Porphyrio melanotus
Species AccountThe Australasian swamphen (Porphyrio melanotus) is a species of swamphen occurring in eastern Indonesia, the Moluccas, Aru and Kai Islands, as well as in Papua New Guinea and Australia. It is also found in New Zealand, where it is known as the pūkeko, a term derived from the Māori language. The Australasian swamphen used to be considered a subspecies of the purple swamphen. -
Australian Crake Porzana fluminea
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Australian Crake Porzana fluminea
Species AccountThe adult Australian Spotted Crake is dark grey on its face, forehead, throat and chest. The crown of its head, the back of its neck and its upper parts are brownish olive, streaked black and finely spotted with white. Its lower flanks are black barred white, and the underside of its tail is white. -
Australian Crake Porzana fluminea
IUCN Species StatusAustralian Crake Porzana fluminea has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Porzana fluminea is listed as Least Concern. -
Australian Crake Porzana fluminea
Species AccountThe Australian crake, also known as Australian spotted crake, (Porzana fluminea) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is endemic to Australia, where its natural habitat is dense reedbeds, shallow open water and mudflats or floating vegetation in fresh or salt water wetlands including lakes, swamps and salt-marsh. -
Azure Gallinule Porphyrio flavirostris
Species AccountThe azure gallinule (Porphyrio flavirostris) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, the United States, and Venezuela. -
Azure Gallinule Porphyrio flavirostris
Cornell Species AccountThe Azure Gallinule is a skulking wetland species of northern South America. It is a small gallinule with a yellow bill, frontal shield, and legs, and pale, faded blue on the head, neck, flanks, and wings. -
Azure Gallinule Porphyrio flavirostris
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla
Species AccountThe Baillon's crake (Porzana pusilla) is a very small waterbird of the family Rallidae. -
Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla
IUCN Species StatusBaillon's Crake Zapornia pusilla has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019. Zapornia pusilla is listed as Least Concern. -
Baillon's Crake Porzana pusilla
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Band-bellied Crake
PhotoNear-perfect shots, plus sound-recordings of rarely seen East Asian crake -
Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
Species AccountThe black rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) is a mouse-sized member of the bird family Rallidae. It is found in scattered parts of North America and the Pacific region of South America, usually in coastal salt marshes but also in some freshwater marshes. It is extinct or threatened in many locations due to habitat loss. The largest populations in North America are in Florida and California. -
Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
Cornell Species AccountThe smallest rail in North America, the Black Rail is perhaps the most secretive too. -
Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
IUCN Species StatusBlack Rail Laterallus jamaicensis has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2020. Laterallus jamaicensis is listed as Endangered under criteria A2ace+3ce+4ace. -
Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Black-tailed Native-hen Gallinula ventralis
Species AccountThe black-tailed nativehen (Tribonyx ventralis) is a rail native to Australia. -
Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
IUCN Species StatusBuff-banded Rail Hypotaenidia philippensis has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Hypotaenidia philippensis is listed as Least Concern. -
Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
Species AccountThe buff-banded rail (Gallirallus philippensis) is a distinctively coloured, highly dispersive, medium-sized rail of the rail family, Rallidae. This species comprises several subspecies found throughout much of Australasia and the south-west Pacific region, including the Philippines (where it is known as tikling), New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand (where it is known as the banded rail or moho-pereru in Māori),[2] and numerous smaller islands, covering a range of latitudes from the tropics to the Subantarctic. -
Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
Species AccountThe Buff-banded Rail is a medium-sized stout rail with short legs. It has a distinctive grey eyebrow and an orange-brown band on its streaked breast. The lores, cheek and hindneck are rich chestnut. The chin and throat are grey, the upperparts streaked brown and the underparts barred black and white. -
California Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis coturniculus
Species AccountSub-species account -
Clapper Rail Rallus crepitans
Species AccountThe clapper rail (Rallus crepitans) is a member of the rail family, Rallidae. The taxonomy for this species is confusing and still being determined. The Ridgway's rail and the mangrove rail have been recently split. Furthermore, some taxonomists consider that the king rail and Aztec rail should be considered within this group, as those birds look similar and the birds are known to interbreed where they share territories -
Clapper Rail Rallus crepitans
IUCN Species StatusClapper Rail Rallus crepitans has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2018. Rallus crepitans is listed as Least Concern. -
Clapper Rail Rallus crepitans
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Common Coot Fulica atra
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Common Coot Fulica atra
IUCN Species StatusCommon Coot Fulica atra has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019. Fulica atra is listed as Least Concern. -
Common Coot Fulica atra
Species AccountThe Eurasian coot (Fulica atra), also known as coot, is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. The scientific name is from Latin; Fulica is "coot", and atra is "black".[3] It is found in Europe, Asia, Australia and parts of Africa. The Australian subspecies is known as the Australian coot. -
Common Coot Fulica atra
Species AccountThe Eurasian Coot is recognised by its snowy white bill and forehead shield. The remainder of the bird is dark sooty grey, except for its bright red eye. Immature birds are generally paler than adults with a white wash on the throat. Nestlings are downy, black with fine yellow tips. The head is orange-red and the bill is red with a cream-white tip. -
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Species AccountThe common moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) (also known as the swamp chicken[2]) is a bird species in the family Rallidae. It is distributed across many parts of the Old World. -
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
IUCN Species StatusCommon Moorhen Gallinula chloropus has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Gallinula chloropus is listed as Least Concern. -
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Corncrake Crex crex
Species AccountThe corn crake, corncrake or landrail (Crex crex) is a bird in the rail family. It breeds in Europe and Asia as far east as western China, and migrates to Africa for the northern hemisphere's winter. It is a medium-sized crake with buff- or grey-streaked brownish-black upperparts, chestnut markings on the wings, and blue-grey underparts with rust-coloured and white bars on the flanks and undertail. -
Corncrake Crex crex
IUCN Species StatusCorncrake Crex crex has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Crex crex is listed as Least Concern. -
Corncrake Crex crex
InformationAccount & status in UK… -
Corncrake Crex crex
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
WikiThe dusky moorhen (Gallinula tenebrosa) is a bird species in the rail family and is one of the eight extant species in the moorhen genus. It occurs in India, Australia, New Guinea, Borneo and Indonesia. It is often confused with the purple swamphen and the Eurasian coot due to similar appearance and overlapping distributions. They often live alongside birds in the same genus, such as the Tasmanian nativehen and the common moorhen... -
Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Giant Wood-Rail Aramides ypecaha
Species AccountThe giant wood rail (Aramides ypecaha) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. -
Giant Wood-Rail Aramides ypecaha
Cornell Species AccountThe Giant Wood-rail is a large, terrestrial rail of south Brazil and Uruguay, eastern Paraguay, and northeast Argentina. -
Giant Wood-Rail Aramides ypecaha
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Grey-breasted Crake Laterallus exilis
Species AccountThe grey-breasted crake (Laterallus exilis) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is found in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are swamps and pastureland. -
Grey-breasted Crake Laterallus exilis
Cornell Species AccountThe Gray-breasted Crake is widespread in Central and South America from southern Mexico to southeast Brazil. It occurs in a wide variety of marshy vegetation along riverbanks, lake edges and west grassy habitat. -
Grey-breasted Crake Laterallus exilis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Grey-necked Wood-Rail Aramides cajanea
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Grey-necked Wood-Rail Aramides cajanea
Cornell Species AccountThe Gray-necked Wood-Rail is a large Rallid distributed from Argentina north to Mexico. It is usually secretive but occasionally roams in the open near the edges of wetlands or mangroves. -
Grey-necked Wood-Rail Aramides cajanea
Species AccountThe grey-necked wood rail[2] or grey-cowled wood rail[3] (Aramides cajaneus) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It lives primarily in forests and mangroves of Central and South America. -
Hawaiian Coot Fulica alai
Image & notes -
King Rail Rallus elegans
Species AccountThe king rail (Rallus elegans) is a waterbird, the largest North American rail. -
King Rail Rallus elegans
Cornell Species AccountA large rail of freshwater marshes, the King Rail has declined alarmingly in much of its range over the last 40 years. -
King Rail Rallus elegans
IUCN Species StatusKing Rail Rallus elegans has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2021. Rallus elegans is listed as Near Threatened under criteria A2cde. -
King Rail Rallus elegans
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Lesser Moorhen Gallinula angulata
Species AccountThe lesser moorhen (Gallinula angulata) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. -
Lesser Moorhen Gallinula angulata
IUCN Species StatusLesser Moorhen Paragallinula angulata has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Paragallinula angulata is listed as Least Concern. -
Little Crake Porzana parva
Species AccountThe little crake (Porzana parva) is a very small waterbird of the family Rallidae. The genus name Porzana is derived from Venetian terms for small rails, and parva is Latin for "small". -
Little Crake Porzana parva
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Lord Howe Woodhen Gallirallus sylvestris
Species AccountThe Lord Howe woodhen (Gallirallus sylvestris) also known as the Lord Howe Island woodhen or Lord Howe (Island) rail, is a flightless bird of the rail family, (Rallidae). It is endemic to Lord Howe Island off the Australian coast. It is currently classified as endangered by the IUCN. -
Lord Howe Woodhen Gallirallus sylvestris
IUCN Species StatusLord Howe Woodhen Hypotaenidia sylvestris has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2022. Hypotaenidia sylvestris is listed as Endangered under criteria D. -
Lord Howe Woodhen Gallirallus sylvestris
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Mangrove Rail Rallus longirostris
Species AccountThe mangrove rail (Rallus longirostris) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is found in South America. It was formerly considered conspecific with the clapper rail (Rallus crepitans).[ -
Mangrove Rail Rallus longirostris
IUCN Species StatusMangrove Rail Rallus longirostris has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Rallus longirostris is listed as Least Concern. -
Mangrove Rail Rallus longirostris
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus
Species AccountThe plumbeous rail (Pardirallus sanguinolentus) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay, and is a vagrant to the Falkland Islands. Its natural habitat is swamps. -
Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus
Cornell Species AccountThe Plumbeous Rail is the most widespread rail in the southern half of South America. It is found as far north as southern Ecuador, but reaches all the way south to Tierra del Fuego, making it also the southernmost of the continent’s rails. -
Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus
IUCN Species StatusPlumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Pardirallus sanguinolentus is listed as Least Concern. -
Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata
Species AccountThe red-knobbed coot or crested coot, (Fulica cristata), is a member of the rail and crake bird family, the Rallidae. -
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Rouget's Rail Rougetius rougetii
Species AccountThe Rouget's rail (Rougetius rougetii) is a species of bird in the Rallidae family. It is the only member of the genus Rougetius. It is found in Eritrea and Ethiopia... -
Ruddy Crake Laterallus ruber
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Ruddy Crake Laterallus ruber
Cornell Species AccountThe Ruddy Crake (sometimes known as the Red Rail) is one of the most northerly members of its genus. It occurs along both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts of Central America from Costa Rica north to Guerrero in southwestern Mexico and Tamaulipas in northeastern Mexico. -
Ruddy Crake Laterallus ruber
Species AccountThe ruddy crake (Laterallus ruber) is a bird in the rail family, Rallidae. -
Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca
Species AccountThe ruddy-breasted crake (Porzana fusca), or ruddy crake, is a waterbird in the rail and crake family Rallidae. -
Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca
IUCN Species StatusRuddy-breasted Crake Zapornia fusca has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Zapornia fusca is listed as Least Concern. -
Ruddy-breasted Crake Porzana fusca
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map -
Rufous-sided Crake Laterallus melanophaius
Species AccountThe rufous-sided crake (Laterallus melanophaius) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Its natural habitat is swamps. -
Rufous-sided Crake Laterallus melanophaius
Cornell Species AccountThe Rufous-sided Crake is a small, slender rail whose range encompasses most of the South American continent. -
Rufous-sided Crake Laterallus melanophaius
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Slaty-breasted Rail Gallirallus striatus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map. -
Slaty-breasted Rail Gallirallus striatus
Species AccountThe slaty-breasted rail (Gallirallus striatus) is a species of rail found in the Indian Subcontinent and Southeast Asia. Breeding has been recorded in July near Dehradun in the foothills of the Indian Himalayas. -
Sora Rail Porzana carolinus
Species AccountThe sora (Porzana carolina) is a small waterbird of the family Rallidae, sometimes also referred to as the sora rail or sora crake. The genus name Porzana is derived from Venetian terms for small rails, and Carolina refers to the Carolina Colony.[2] "Sora" is probably taken from a Native American language. -
Sora Rail Porzana carolinus
Cornell Species AccountA small, secretive bird of freshwater marshes, the Sora is the most common and widely distributed rail in North America. Its distinctive descending whinny call can be easily heard from the depths of the cattails, but actually seeing the little marsh-walker is much more difficult. -
Sora Rail Porzana carolinus
IUCN Species StatusSora Porzana carolina has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Porzana carolina is listed as Least Concern. -
Sora Rail Porzana carolinus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
South Island Takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri
Species AccountSpecies account & Painted image -
South Island Takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri
Species AccountThe takahē, Notornis, or South Island takahē (Porphyrio hochstetteri), is a flightless bird indigenous to New Zealand and belonging to the rail family. It was thought to be extinct after the last four known specimens were taken in 1898. However, after a carefully planned search effort the bird was rediscovered by Geoffrey Orbell near Lake Te Anau in the Murchison Mountains, South Island, on 20 November 1948. The specific scientific name commemorates the Austrian geologist Ferdinand von Hochstetter. -
South Island Takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri
IUCN Species StatusSouth Island Takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2020. Porphyrio hochstetteri is listed as Endangered under criteria D. -
South Island Takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis
IUCN Species StatusSpotless Crake Zapornia tabuensis has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Zapornia tabuensis is listed as Least Concern. -
Spotless Crake Porzana tabuensis
Species AccountSpecies account… -
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Species AccountThe spotted crake (Porzana porzana) is a small waterbird of the family Rallidae. The scientific name is derived from Venetian terms for small rails. -
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
IUCN Species StatusSpotted Crake Porzana porzana has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Porzana porzana is listed as Least Concern. -
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
RSPB Species AccountThe spotted crake is only the size of a starling. Breeding adults have a brown back with dark streaks, a blue-grey face and an olive-brown breast - all covered with white flecks and spots. -
Spotted Crake Porzana porzana
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Striped Crake Aenigmatolimnas marginalis
Species AccountThe striped crake (Aenigmatolimnas marginalis) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. It is the only species in the genus Aenigmatolimnas, having formerly been included in Porzana or in the defunct genus Poliolimnas. Its precise relationships, however, are still enigmatic. -
Striped Crake Aenigmatolimnas marginalis
IUCN Species StatusStriped Crake Amaurornis marginalis has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Amaurornis marginalis is listed as Least Concern. -
Striped Crake Aenigmatolimnas marginalis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Swinhoe's Rail Coturnicops exquisitus
PhotoPhoto of an amazing appearance of species in Shanghai -
Tasmanian Native-Hen Gallinula mortierii
Species AccountThe Tasmanian nativehen (also Tasmanian native-hen or Tasmanian native hen) (Tribonyx mortierii) is a flightless rail and one of twelve species of birds endemic to the Australian island of Tasmania. -
Tasmanian Native-Hen Gallinula mortierii
IUCN Species StatusTasmanian Native-hen Tribonyx mortierii has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2018. Tribonyx mortierii is listed as Least Concern. -
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
Species AccountThe Virginia rail (Rallus limicola) is a small waterbird, of the family Rallidae. These birds remain fairly common despite continuing loss of habitat, but are secretive by nature and more often heard than seen. -
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
Cornell Species AccountA secretive bird of freshwater marshes, the Virginia Rail most often remains hidden in dense vegetation. It possesses many adaptations for moving through its habitat, including a laterally compressed body, long toes, and flexible vertebrae. -
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
IUCN Species StatusVirginia Rail Rallus limicola has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Rallus limicola is listed as Least Concern. -
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
IUCN Species StatusWatercock Gallicrex cinerea has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Gallicrex cinerea is listed as Least Concern. -
Watercock Gallicrex cinerea
Species AccountThe watercock (Gallicrex cinerea) is a waterbird in the rail and crake family, Rallidae. It is the only member of the genus Gallicrex. Traditionally held to be closely related to moorhens (which the adult male visually resembles a lot), it is actually member of a mostly tropical Asian clade containing also Aenigmatolimnas, Amaurornis, Himantornis and Megacrex. -
Weka Gallirallus australis
Species AccountThe weka is one of New Zealand’s iconic large flightless birds. Likely derived from a flighted ancestor, weka are 3-6 times larger than banded rails, which are considered their nearest flying relatives. -
Weka Gallirallus australis
Species AccountThe weka (also known as Maori hen or woodhen) (Gallirallus australis) is a flightless bird species of the rail family. It is endemic to New Zealand, where four subspecies are recognized. Weka are sturdy brown birds, about the size of a chicken. As omnivores, they feed mainly on invertebrates and fruit. Weka usually lay eggs between August and January; both sexes help to incubate. -
Weka Gallirallus australis
IUCN Species StatusWeka Gallirallus australis has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2018. Gallirallus australis is listed as Vulnerable under criteria A3bce+4bce. -
Weka Gallirallus australis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Western Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
Species AccountThe western swamphen (Porphyrio porphyrio) is a "swamp hen" in the rail family Rallidae. From its French name talève sultane, it is also known as the sultana bird. This chicken-sized bird, with its large feet, bright plumage and red bill and frontal shield is easily recognisable in its native range. It used to be considered the nominate subspecies of the purple swamphen. It is found in Iberia, France, Sardinia and North Africa to Tunisia. -
Western Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
IUCN Species StatusPurple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Porphyrio porphyrio is listed as Least Concern. -
Western Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
Species AccountThe white-breasted waterhen (Amaurornis phoenicurus) is a waterbird of the rail and crake family, Rallidae, that is widely distributed across Southeast Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. They are dark slaty birds with a clean white face, breast and belly. They are somewhat bolder than most other rails and are often seen stepping slowly with their tail cocked upright in open marshes or even drains near busy roads. They are largely crepuscular in activity and during the breeding season, just after the first rains, make loud and repetitive croaking calls. -
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
IUCN Species StatusWhite-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2016. Amaurornis phoenicurus is listed as Least Concern. -
White-throated Crake Laterallus albigularis
Species AccountThe white-throated crake (Laterallus albigularis) is a species of bird in the family Rallidae. -
White-throated Crake Laterallus albigularis
Cornell Species AccountThe White-throated Crake has occasionally been considered conspecific with the Rufous-sided Crake (Laterallus melanophaius), although most modern commentators have preferred to retain them as separate species, and indeed the present species might prove to be more closely related to Gray-breasted Crake (Laterallus exilis). -
White-throated Crake Laterallus albigularis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution maps. -
Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis
Species AccountThe yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis)[2] is a small secretive marsh bird, of the family Rallidae. -
Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis
Cornell Species AccountBecause of its secretive nature, the Yellow Rail is infrequently encountered. The second-smallest rail in North America, it breeds in sedge marshes and winters in marshes and hay fields. -
Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis
IUCN Species StatusYellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis has most recently been assessed for The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2020. Coturnicops noveboracensis is listed as Least Concern. -
Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis
Species AccountSound archive and distribution map.
Number of Species
-
Number of bird species: 134
Useful Reading
-
Rails
| (A Guide to the Rails, Crakes, Gallinules and Coots of the World) | by Barry Taylor & Ber van Perlo | Pica Press | 2000 | Hardback | 600 pages, 43 colour plates, b/w illustrations, maps | ISBN: 9781873403594 Buy this book from NHBS.com
Organisations
-
BirdLife International - Corncrake Conservation Team
WebsiteInternational conservation efforts for Corncrake Crex crex… Fifth meeting of the Corncrake Conservation Team 2015
Photographers & Artists
-
Australian Crake Porzana fluminea
GalleryExcellent image -
Baillons Crake Porzana pusilla
GalleryVintage images… -
Buff-banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
Species AccountExcellent image & account -
Buff-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura elegans
PhotographBuff-spotted Flufftail (Sarothrura elegans) in South Africa by Sean O'Hagan. -
Dusky Moorhen Gallinula tenebrosa
Species AccountGreat image & account -
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
VideoExcellent images -
European Crakes
GalleryPhotographs of some European crakes… -
Okinawa Rail Gallirallus okinawae
Species accountExcellent Image + Account -
Slaty-legged Crake Rallina eurizonoides
Species accountVery good image + Account -
White-breasted Waterhen Amaurornis phoenicurus
GalleryExcellent image -
White-winged Coot Fulica leucoptera
Species accountGreat Image + account