Yellow Rail

The Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) is a diminutive and elusive marsh bird, a member of the Rallidae family. This species is characterized by its brown upperparts streaked with black, a yellowish-brown breast, and a light belly with barred flanks. During the breeding season, males exhibit a short thick bill that turns yellow, complementing their white-edged back feathers. A yellow-brown band graces the area above the eye, and their legs are a greenish-yellow hue. These birds span a length of 16–19 cm (6.3–7.5 in), with males averaging a weight of 59 g (2.1 oz) and females slightly lighter at 52 g (1.8 oz).

Identification Tips

To identify the Yellow Rail, look for the distinctive yellowish-brown breast and the barred pattern on the flanks. The bill of breeding males turns yellow, which can be a helpful marker. Their white-edged back feathers and the yellow-brown band over the eye are also key features to note.

Habitat

The Yellow Rail favors wet meadows, fens, and shallow marshes as its breeding habitat. These environments provide the cover and resources necessary for the species' survival.

Distribution

The nominate subspecies is found across Canada east of the Rockies, the northeastern United States, and along the northern Canada–US border from the Great Plains to the Great Lakes. During migration, these birds head to the southeastern coastal United States, with winter habits observed in coastal Texas, southeast Oklahoma, and coastal South Carolina.

Behaviour

Renowned for their secretive nature, Yellow Rails are seldom seen. They are more inclined to use their camouflage and navigate on foot through dense vegetation to evade detection rather than take flight. Their calls, often heard at night, resemble the sound of clicking stones, a "tik-tik tik-tik-tik" that repeats in the darkness.

Breeding

The nest of the Yellow Rail is a modest cup of marsh vegetation, hidden under dead plants on damp ground. The female lays a clutch of five to 10 eggs, which are creamy with reddish and black spots. Incubation lasts 16 to 18 days, and should the initial clutch be destroyed, the female may lay another. Post-hatching, the female either conceals or removes the eggshells to protect the nest site.

Diet and Feeding

The diet of the Yellow Rail is primarily composed of small invertebrates, with beetles, spiders, and snails being the main constituents. They also consume plant seeds, particularly from sedges and rushes.

Conservation status

The Yellow Rail is currently classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, their numbers have been in decline due to habitat loss. Recent surveys, such as the one in the Edéhzhíe Protected Area, suggest that the species may be more widespread than previously thought, offering a glimmer of hope for their conservation.