Ridgway's Rail Identification

Large rail with a slightly curved bill and a short tail. Gray-brown above with dark streaking down its back. Note pale barring on the flanks and cinnamon chest and neck.

Heavy-bodied marsh bird with a cinnamon neck and pale barring on the flanks.

Slowly walks through marsh vegetation. Cinnamon below with paler barring on the flanks and grayish brown above with heavy streaking.

Chickenlike bird of wetlands where it forages for crustaceans, minnows, and aquatic insects. Note the heavy slightly curved bill.

Most often stays concealed in marsh vegetation, but occasionally walks across open wetlands with its tail cocked up and its head pushed forward.

Found in saltwater marshes, freshwater marshes, and mangrove swamps in California, Arizona, Nevada, and coastal western Mexico.