Black Rail

Black Rail

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About the map

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1. Cool Facts
2. Description
3. Similar Species
4. Sound
5. Range
6. Habitat
7. Food
8. Reproduction
9. Conservation Status
10. Other Names

The smallest rail in North America, the Black Rail is perhaps the most secretive too. This small denizen of shallow salt and freshwater marshes is rarely seen and its distinctive "kick-ee-doo" call is heard primarily at night.

Cool Facts

• The Black Rail uses areas with shallower water than other North American rails.

Description

• Size: 10-15 cm (4-6 in)
• Wingspan: 22-28 cm (9-11 in)
• Weight: 29 g (1.02 ounces)

• Small marshbird.
• Difficult to see; runs under vegetation.
• Blackish.
• Black bill.

• Rufous patch across shoulders.
• Back speckled with white.
• Flanks and undertail streaked with white and dark gray.
• Eyes red.
• Legs grayish.

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, but female with paler throat and undertail.

Immature

Similar to adult, but duller and with less distinct spotting and streaking.

Similar Species

• All young rails are black and may be similar in size to the Black Rail. Young rails are downy, generally do not have black bills, and lack the white back spotting and chestnut nape.

Sound

Call a three-noted, nasal "kickee-doo" or "kic-kic-kerr."

Range

Range Map

© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

About the map

Summer Range

Breeds in scattered localities along the Atlantic Coast from Connecticut southward to Florida and Texas. Also resident in California around San Francisco Bay and the lower Colorado River. Rare and local inland throughout the eastern half of the United States. Also in scattered localities through Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and South America.

Winter Range

Winter range poorly known, but may winter in southern portion of breeding range and in Caribbean.

Habitat

Nests in high portions of salt marshes, shallow freshwater marshes, wet meadows, and flooded grassy vegetation.

Food

Small invertebrates and seeds.

Reproduction

Egg Description

Creamy white with fine brown spots.

Condition at Hatching

Covered with black down, leave nest within one day. Fed by parents.

Conservation Status

Difficult to estimate populations. Some populations appear to be declining. Considered Endangered in Arizon, Threatened in California.

Other Names

Rale noir (French)
Gallinetia negra, Pidencillo, Polluela negra, Burrito negruzco, Gallinetita rayas blancas, Taquita de salinas, Gallinuelita prieta (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Eddleman, W. R., R. E. Flores, and M. Legare. 1994. Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis). In The Birds of North America, No. 123 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). Philadelphia: The Academy of Natural Sciences; Washington, D.C.: The American Ornithologists' Union.