King Rail

King Rail

Taxobox
name = King Rail
status = LR/nt | status_system = IUCN2.3
status_ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=Cornell Lab of Ornithology|year=2003|title=King Rail|downloaded=29 Nov 2007 Conservation Status - Severe declines in northern part of range, but populations appear stable in southern states, especially Louisiana and Florida. Declines related to loss of wetlands. [http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/King_Rail.html] ]


image_width = 200px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Gruiformes
familia = Rallidae
genus = "Rallus"
species = "R. elegans"
binomial = "Rallus elegans"
binomial_authority = Audubon, 1834

The King Rail, "Rallus elegans", is a waterbird, the largest North American rail.

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. Immature birds are light brown on the head and darker brown on the back and wings.

They breed in marshes in eastern North America. The nest is a raised platform built with marsh vegetation and covered by a canopy. The King Rail interbreeds with the Clapper Rail where their ranges overlap; some researchers believe that these two birds belong to the same species.

Birds along the southeastern coasts of the United States are permanent residents. Other birds migrate to the southern United States and Mexico; in Canada, they are found in southern Ontario.

These birds forage in shallow water near cover and mainly eat aquatic insects and crustaceans.

These birds are still common in some coastal areas, although interior populations have declined due to habitat loss.

This bird's most common call is a low grunt.

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern

External links

* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=1241 King Rail videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://vireo.acnatsci.org/search.html?Form=Search&SEARCHBY=Common&KEYWORDS=king+rail&showwhat=images&AGE=All&SEX=All&ACT=All&Search=Search&VIEW=All&ORIENTATION=All&RESULTS=24 King Rail photo gallery] VIREO
* [http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/ecology/images/campperryimgs/kingrail.jpgPhoto-High Res] ; [http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/ecology/html/casestudies/imagespages/kngrail.htm Article] – www.epa.gov


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • King rail — King King, n. [AS. cyng, cyning; akin to OS. kuning, D. koning, OHG. kuning, G. k[ o]nig, Icel. konungr, Sw. konung, Dan. konge; formed with a patronymic ending, and fr. the root of E. kin; cf. Icel. konr a man of noble birth. [root]44. See {Kin} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • king rail — karališkoji vištelė statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Rallus elegans angl. king rail vok. Königsralle, f rus. королевский пастушок, m pranc. râle élégant, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – ilgasnapės vištelės …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • king rail — noun : a rather large long billed No. American rail (Rallus elegans) having plumage streaked above with black and tawny olive and a rufous of cinnamon red breast when in full plumage * * * a large, long billed rail, Rallus elegans, of North… …   Useful english dictionary

  • king rail — a large, long billed rail, Rallus elegans, of North America, having reddish brown plumage. [1825 35, Amer.] * * * …   Universalium

  • King — King, n. [AS. cyng, cyning; akin to OS. kuning, D. koning, OHG. kuning, G. k[ o]nig, Icel. konungr, Sw. konung, Dan. konge; formed with a patronymic ending, and fr. the root of E. kin; cf. Icel. konr a man of noble birth. [root]44. See {Kin}.] 1 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • King auk — King King, n. [AS. cyng, cyning; akin to OS. kuning, D. koning, OHG. kuning, G. k[ o]nig, Icel. konungr, Sw. konung, Dan. konge; formed with a patronymic ending, and fr. the root of E. kin; cf. Icel. konr a man of noble birth. [root]44. See {Kin} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • King bird of paradise — King King, n. [AS. cyng, cyning; akin to OS. kuning, D. koning, OHG. kuning, G. k[ o]nig, Icel. konungr, Sw. konung, Dan. konge; formed with a patronymic ending, and fr. the root of E. kin; cf. Icel. konr a man of noble birth. [root]44. See {Kin} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • King card — King King, n. [AS. cyng, cyning; akin to OS. kuning, D. koning, OHG. kuning, G. k[ o]nig, Icel. konungr, Sw. konung, Dan. konge; formed with a patronymic ending, and fr. the root of E. kin; cf. Icel. konr a man of noble birth. [root]44. See {Kin} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • King Cole — King King, n. [AS. cyng, cyning; akin to OS. kuning, D. koning, OHG. kuning, G. k[ o]nig, Icel. konungr, Sw. konung, Dan. konge; formed with a patronymic ending, and fr. the root of E. kin; cf. Icel. konr a man of noble birth. [root]44. See {Kin} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • King conch — King King, n. [AS. cyng, cyning; akin to OS. kuning, D. koning, OHG. kuning, G. k[ o]nig, Icel. konungr, Sw. konung, Dan. konge; formed with a patronymic ending, and fr. the root of E. kin; cf. Icel. konr a man of noble birth. [root]44. See {Kin} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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