- 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 =Animal ia
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 America n 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
marsh es in eastern North America. The nest is a raised platform built with marsh vegetation and covered by a canopy. The King Rail interbreeds with theClapper 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 andMexico ; inCanada , they are found in southernOntario .These birds forage in shallow water near cover and mainly eat aquatic
insect s andcrustacean s.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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