Clapper Rail

Clapper Rail

About the photographs

About the map

Play sound from this species

Menu

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

The large Clapper Rail is abundant in saltwater marshes and mangrove swamps from Massachusetts to South America.

Description

• Size: 32-41 cm (13-16 in)
• Weight: 160-400 g (5.65-14.12 ounces)

• Medium-sized, chicken-like marsh bird.
• Compact body.
• Short tail.
• Strong legs.
• Long, slightly down-curved bill.
• Gray or reddish.
• Dull stripes on flanks.

Sex Differences

Sexes look alike, but males slightly larger.

Immature

Downy chick black. Juvenile similar to adult, but marking indistinct and with variable amount of black on sides.

Similar Species

• King Rail is very similar, but generally is more reddish, face more rusty, and flank stripes more distinct.
• Virginia Rail is smaller, is bright reddish, and has brighter colored bill.

Sound

Call a short series of clacking or grunting notes.

Range

Range Map

© 2004 Cornell Lab of Ornithology

About the map

Summer Range

Breeds along coast from Massachusetts southward to Florida, and around the Gulf Coast to Mexico. Also Pacific Coast from central California southward to southern Mexico and up the Colorada River. Also in Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and both coasts of South America.

Winter Range

Resident in most of breeding range, but leaves northern parts in winter.

Habitat

Saltmarshes and mangrove swamps.

Food

Mostly crustaceans, but also small fish, insects, seeds, birds eggs, and slugs.

Reproduction

Egg Description

Creamy white with irregular brown blotches.

Condition at Hatching

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

Conservation Status

Western subspecies endangered. Eastern form abundant.

Other Names

Râle gris, Râle d'Eau,Pintade,Rateau (French)
Rascón picudo,Gallinuela de aqua salada,Pollo de mangle (Spanish)

Sources used to construct this page:

Eddleman, W. R., and C .J. Conway. 1998. Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris). In The Birds of North America, No .340 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.