King Rail Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Calls (Northern)
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Texas, March 28, 2006Recorded by Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay Library
Calls (Northern)
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Texas, March 28, 2006Recorded by Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay Library
Calls (Northern)
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South Carolina, December 27, 2009Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls (Northern)
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Florida, March 12, 2007Recorded by Gerrit Vyn / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

A series of abrupt kek notes, often a long series, usually slowing in cadence toward the end and often given at night. Very similar to song of Clapper Rail but chestier, deeper, slower, and more staccato. They sing most frequently during establishment of territory through nesting but may sing at any time of year in the southern parts of range.

Calls

The call most often heard is a descending series of grunt-like sounds, very similar to calls of Clapper and Virginia Rails, which serves as an alarm call, a contact call, and a territorial defense duet. Another call shared by all three is a kik-brrrr, whose function is unclear. Six or seven other calls, rarely heard, are involved in courtship, nesting, defense, and brood rearing.