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Clapper Rail

Rallus crepitans

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernFishWetlandPlatform nestLarge · 306 g
Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans), photo 1
Photo: Rallus_longirostris_3.jpg: Riverbanks Outdoor Store from New Port Richey, FL, United States derivative work: Berichard (talk) · CC BY 2.0
Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans), photo 2
Photo: dvollmar · CC BY 4.0
Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans), photo 3
Photo: lwolfartist · CC BY 2.0
Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans), photo 4
Photo: Brandon Johnson · CC BY 4.0
Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans), photo 5
Photo: tcantrell52 · CC BY 4.0
Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans), photo 6
Photo: tcantrell52 · CC BY 4.0
Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans), photo 7
Photo: Clay Gibbons · CC BY 4.0
Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans), photo 8
Photo: Rallus_longirostris_3.jpg: Riverbanks Outdoor Store from New Port Richey, FL, United States derivative work: Berichard (talk) · CC BY 2.0
Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans), photo 9
Photo: dvollmar · CC BY 4.0
Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans), photo 10
Photo: lwolfartist · CC BY 2.0

ID tip

The clapper rail is a chicken-sized bird that rarely flies. It is grayish brown with a pale chestnut breast. Males and females have similar plumage. The bill which curves slightly downwards is orange yellow at the base in males and duller in females. An adult bird has an overall length of 32–41 cm (13–16 in) and weighs 199–400 g (7.0–14.1 oz).

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Clapper Rail

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Clapper Rail

Regular rangeRare visitor

The map shades 17 countries with regular records, and 2 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

United States Puerto Rico Cuba Mexico Belize Bahamas Dominican Republic U.S. Virgin Islands Turks & Caicos Islands Jamaica Antigua & Barbuda Guadeloupe Haiti British Virgin Islands Guatemala Cayman Islands Martinique

Recorded as a rare visitor in Canada, Bermuda.

About the Clapper Rail

The clapper rail is a member of the rail family, Rallidae. The taxonomy for this species is confusing and still being determined. It is a large brown rail that is resident in wetlands along the Atlantic coasts of the eastern United States, eastern Mexico and some Caribbean islands. This species was formerly considered to be conspecific with the mangrove rail.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) Virginia RailRallus limicolaAdults are mainly brown, darker on the back and crown, with orange-brown legs. Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) Water RailRallus aquaticusThe adult of the nominate subspecies is a medium-sized rail, 23–28 cm (9.1–11.0 in) long with a 38–45 cm (15–18 in) wingspan. King Rail (Rallus elegans) King RailRallus elegansDistinct features are a long bill with a slight downward curve, with adults being brown on the back and rusty-brown on the face and breast with a dark brown cap.

Side by side: Clapper Rail vs Water Rail · Clapper Rail vs Virginia Rail · Clapper Rail vs King Rail

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