King Rail
(Rallus elegans)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | NT - Near Threatened |
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| NatureServe | N4B, N4N - Apparently Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding S1B, SNRM - Critically Imperiled Breeding and Unranked Migrant |
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| Minnesota | Endangered Species in Greatest Conservation Need |
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Description |
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The flanks are strongly barred black and white. The underparts are reddish-brown (rufous). The bill is long and slightly curved downward. |
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Size |
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15½″ to 19″ in length 19″ wingspan |
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Voice |
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A low grunt repeated ten or fewer times: kek-kek-kek-kek-kek-kek-kek-kek |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Marshes, marshy shorelines, shrubby swamps, rice fields and other flooded fields |
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Biology |
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Migration |
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Late April to late September |
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Nesting |
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Food |
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Distribution |
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Occurrence |
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Former breeder, occasional migrant |
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Maps |
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The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
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Taxonomy |
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| Class | Aves (birds) | ||
Order |
Gruiformes (cranes, rails, and allies) | ||
Family |
Rallidae (rails, gallinules, and coots) | ||
Genus |
Rallus (greater rails) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Cuban King Rail (Rallus elegans ramsdeni) Northern King Rail (Rallus elegans elegans) |
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Synonyms |
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Visitor Photos |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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| Slideshows | ||
| King Rail Marcello Gomes |
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| King Rail JMC Nature Photos |
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| King Rail J Scott Ryder |
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| King Rails Robert Gundy |
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| Visitor Videos | |||
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| Other Videos | |||
| King Rail calling. Laguna Atascosa NWR tavovalero |
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About
Published on Apr 19, 2015 Recorded at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. Los Fresnos Texas. 2015-04-12 Rallus elegans If you want to watch similar bird and other wildlife videos go to my YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/tavovalero/videos |
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| King Rails Lang Elliott |
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About
Uploaded on Jul 18, 2010 Clarence Cannon NWR is famous for its King Rails, and July is the month to see females and their chicks. Finally, I got the chance this year to get over there, encouraged by the reports of several St Louis birders. |
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| King Rail - Rallus elegans Stoil Ivanov |
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About
Published on Aug 10, 2014 King Rail ( Rallus elegans ) 8-10-2014 Air Station Prairie Glenview, IL |
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| King Rail calling :The Celery Fields Claire Herzog |
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About
Published on Mar 8, 2015 |
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| King Rail (Rallus elegans) ospr3y |
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About
Published on Jan 19, 2017 Seen at the 3 Ton Bridge at Phinizy Swamp Nature Park in Augusta, Georgia (Richmond County). Phinizy is the most reliable location in the state to find this species. |
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Visitor Sightings |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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