Birda Logo
Features
Birda+
About
Species Guide
Challenges
Shop
loading...
A photo of a King Rail (Rallus elegans)
King Rail

King Rail

Rallus elegans

The King Rail (Rallus elegans) is the largest North American rail, a waterbird of considerable size. It is characterized by a long bill with a gentle downward curve. The adult's plumage is a rich tapestry of brown on the back, transitioning to a rusty-brown on the face and breast, topped with a dark brown cap. A white throat and a lighter belly, with barred flanks, complete its striking appearance. The undertail coverts are white, which the male proudly displays during courtship rituals.

Identification Tips

When identifying the King Rail, look for the distinctive long bill and the coloration pattern of rusty-brown on the face and breast, with a darker cap. The white throat and barred flanks are also key features. Juveniles are downy with lighter brown on the head and darker brown on the back and wings.

Habitat

The King Rail favors marshes as its breeding grounds, particularly in eastern North America.

Distribution

This species is a resident along the southeastern coasts of the United States, while others migrate to the southern United States and Mexico. In Canada, they are found in southern Ontario.

Behaviour

The King Rail is diurnal, setting it apart from its smaller, nocturnal relatives. After nesting, an adult undergoes a complete molt and becomes flightless for nearly a month.

Song & Calls

The call of the King Rail is a low, repeated grunt, which can be transcribed as "kek-kek-kek."

Breeding

Nests are constructed as raised platforms with marsh vegetation, concealed by a canopy to protect the eggs from aerial predators. The King Rail may interbreed with the Clapper Rail where their ranges overlap. It lays a clutch of 6 to 14 pale buff eggs with brown spotting, which are incubated by both parents for 21 to 23 days. The downy young are precocial but rely on their parents for food for up to six weeks post-hatching.

Diet and Feeding

The King Rail forages in shallow water, probing the mud for aquatic insects and crustaceans. Chicks are fed small arthropods by their parents, with males often offering food during courtship.

Conservation status

The King Rail is currently classified as Near Threatened. While still common in some coastal areas, interior populations have suffered declines due to habitat loss. In Michigan, it is a legally protected state endangered species.

App logo
Birda is a birdwatching app and community aimed at curious people who want to deepen their connection with nature.

King Rail Fun Facts

Did you know?
An adult King Rail moults completely after breeding and is flightless for nearly a month while it grows a new set of feathers.

King Rails on Birda

Sightings

More Rails, Crakes & Coots

Birda Logo

Your birdwatching journey like never before

Connect with nature in minutes
Take a walk, look out of the window and log the birds that you see. Feel good about those little connections to nature.
Discover the joy of birding
Find new birding spots, see more birds, share and celebrate with a like-minded community of nature lovers.
Play your part in saving nature
Logging your birding sightings and sessions turns into positive action for our planet. Every sighting counts.

Birda Blog

What Our Birders Say
Bryan C
Clean and easy to use
Really enjoying this app, it's clean and easy to use. I love the ease of being able to add those one-off birds without starting a whole checklist. I also like the social aspect, like the parts of my Facebook I like, without the ads and junk, just birds. Can't wait to see it become more populated.
Paul F
Very good database
Highly recommend. It great that this app shows you male Vs female variations when posting. Very good database I'm really impressed.
Emma L
App got me interested in birding!
Super friendly community <3 This app got me interested in birding! It teaches me cool stuff and its super friendly, and fun :) The species guide is really developing my knowledge, and i love seeing cool new birds from round the world!
Pdydhdrexgi
Fantastic App
This is a really lovely app, for everyone interested in birds - from newbies to old hands. There is a very friendly feel to the community and you will genuinely learn a lot as you record your sightings and photos. There are lots of badges and competitions to keep you engaged, and a host of really useful features.
Unbridled Discoveries
Great app for bird lovers
I love this app! It’s a wonderful way to track birding sessions, and also connect you with fellow birders. I also really like the unidentified bird section, it’s a great community tool to help figure out what a never-before-seen bird is!
Nick S
Work together with community
Been loving using this app to log my bird sightings and work together with community members to identify different birds. I've already learned a lot since I started about a month ago!
Chudbond
Love Birda
I love this app. It really encourages you to log your sightings and the community is friendly and helpful.
Sacha0508
Simply fantastic
I love this app, it puts so much fun into recording the birds I’ve seen and heard while I’m out and about. The interface is user-friendly and suitable for all ages. It’s great to collect badges and to review my “lists”.
Ellesse_W
Learning Birding with Birda
I’m relatively new to birding as a hobby, and Birda is a great way to keep track off all the species I see. I’m still working on my ID skills, but the app is great for figuring out potential species, and the online community is so friendly and helpful. Definitely recommend Birda to both early and serious birders! 🐦
Carl B
Helped me to identify more birds
Love this app and has helped me to identify more birds. The challenges and badges are great for keeping the motivation going to get out and keep birding.
As featured in
Birda Logo
AboutPressAmbassadorsAffiliatesInfluencersCareersPrivacyTerms & Conditions
An app for birdwatchers
Connect with us
Copyright © 2024 Chirp Birding. All rights reserved.