Bird Guide

Clapper Rail vs King Rail

Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans)

Clapper Rail

Rallus crepitans

Large306 gWetland

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).

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: Rallus_longirostris_3.jpg: Riverbanks Outdoor Store from New Port Richey, FL, United States derivative work: Berichard (talk) · CC BY 2.0
King Rail (Rallus elegans)

King Rail

Rallus elegans

Large313 gWetland

Distinct 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. They also have a white throat and a light belly with barred flanks. Undertail coverts are white and are displayed by the male during courtship. Immature birds are covered in down, with light brown on the head and darker brown on the back and wings. This bird's call is a low repeated grunt transcribed as kek-kek-kek.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the King Rail
Recorded by steve · Call · Buxton, Dare County, North Carolina, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: lwolfartist · CC BY 2.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Clapper Rail and King Rail.