Yellow Rail
(Coturnicops noveboracensis)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N4B - Apparently Secure Breeding S3B - Vulnerable Breeding |
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| Minnesota | Special Concern |
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Description |
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The back has black and tawny longitudinal stripes. The trailing edges of the wings, when seen in flight, are white. The bill is short and yellow. |
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Size |
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6½″ to 7½″ in length 11″ wingspan |
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Voice |
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Repetitive clicking, like stones clicking together: “tic-tic, tic-tic-tic.” |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Wet, sedge dominated prairies and meadows |
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Biology |
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Migration |
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Late April to mid-May and 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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Locally common breeder and probable 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 |
Aves (birds) | ||
Family |
Gruiformes (cranes, rails, and allies) | ||
Subfamily |
Rallidae (rails, gallinules, and coots) | ||
Genus |
Coturnicops (yellow rails) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Mexican Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis goldmani) (possibly extinct) Norhtern Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis noveboracensis) |
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Synonyms |
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Visitor Photos |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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| Slideshows | ||
| Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) Steve Arena |
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| Yellow Rail Rice Festival, 2014 Harpy-Eagle |
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| Yellow Rails and Rice Festival Oct. 2013 Bruce |
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| Visitor Videos | |||
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| Other Videos | |||
| In Search of Coturnicops noveboracensis John Acorn |
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About
Published on Jan 22, 2015 A birding film, made with Mike Anderson in 1975, shortly after I began birding. I gave it a new soundtrack, and spliced in some footage of actual birds (the gull shot was taken by my Dad, perhaps as early as 1959). I kind of like the finished product. |
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| Yellow Rail jason law |
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About
Published on May 7, 2016 Port Austin, MI |
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| Alabama's Elusive Yellow Rail OutdoorAlabama |
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About
Published on Oct 9, 2013 Biologists are studying this secretive marsh bird to learn more about its habitat needs and population dynamics. |
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| Yellow Rail Walks on Anahuac NWR-April 2013 Anahuac Refuge |
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About
Published on Apr 24, 2013 Yellow Rail walks led by the Friends of Anahuac Refuge provide visitors an up-close view of rails found on the refuge. Special permission has been granted by the US Fish & Wildlife Service to the Friends to provide this opportunity. |
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| Yellow Rail Carden Alvar Jean Iron |
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About
Published on Apr 30, 2015 Yellow Rail singing at the Sedge Wren Marsh on the Carden Alvar, Ontario. Please note Virginia Rails were also singing in the marsh. 7:30 p.m. on 29 April 2015. More information about Carden Alvar http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/articles.cardenalvar |
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Visitor Sightings |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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