King Rail Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesKing Rail
Adult
Large, slender rail with a short tail and long bill. Upperparts are mottled brown and rusty. Flanks are barred white. Neck and breast are rusty.
© Daniel Irons / Macaulay LibraryMaryland, March 22, 2020Adult
Large and slender with a long neck and bill. Neck and chest are rusty. Flanks are barred dark and white.
© Brendan Klick / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, May 06, 2017Adult with juveniles
King Rail chicks follow their parents for several weeks learning how to forage. By the time they are 4-6 weeks old they obtain about half of their food and by about 7-9 weeks find all of their own food.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryTexasNot all videos have sound
Adult
Note white barring on flanks and overall warm rusty tones.
© Jeff Timmons / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, June 02, 2018Adult with juveniles
Call is a staccato series of harsh, throaty notes, more crisply delivered than Clapper Rail.
© Larry Arbanas / Macaulay LibraryTexasNot all videos have sound
Adult
Occurs in tidal brackish and nontidal freshwater marshes including rice fields. Tail often held up.
© Jeff Timmons / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, June 14, 2017Adult
Typically forages in densely vegetated freshwater wetlands where it can be difficult to see. Forages more frequently at dawn and dusk.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, May 01, 1999Not all videos have sound
Adult
Forages for small aquatic crustaceans, fish, amphibians, insects, and seeds by probing bill into the water and mud.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryVirginia, May 01, 1999Not all videos have sound
Similar SpeciesClapper Rail
Adult
Clapper Rails have gray cheeks, less distinct striping on the flanks, and are often paler cinnamon than King Rails. Clapper Rails tend to occur in more saltwater wetlands, while King Rails tend to be in brackish or freshwater areas.
© Brooke Miller / Macaulay LibraryTexas, April 23, 2014Similar SpeciesRidgway's Rail
Adult
Ridgway's Rails are often paler and have less distinct striping on the flanks than King Rails.
© Antonio Xeira / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 22, 2016Similar SpeciesVirginia Rail
Adult
Virginia Rails are smaller with a richer cinnamon color than King Rails. They have more distinct gray cheek patches than King Rails.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 06, 2016Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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