RAIL  

Birds of the family Rallidae are called rails. The birds' bodies are usually narrow enough to enable them to slip through dense vegetation, such as in the marshes they typically inhabit. Rails ordinarily remain on the ground and are difficult to flush, secretive, and sometimes nocturnal in habit. Commonly heard rather than seen, they emit certain calls and squawks characteristic of the species.

These small- to medium-size birds have moderate to long legs and long toes, which are advantageous for walking or running over soft ground. They often flick their short tails, which are cocked upward. They are usually but not always colored gray, brown, and dull red; the plumage usually has a loose texture, and the sexes look alike. Bills range from stubby to elongate, depending on the species. Rails are omnivorous, but many species predominantly eat small animals. Their nests generally are well hidden and well separated. Clutches often contain 6 to 12 eggs, and both sexes usually participate in incubating them. The young at hatching are covered by a black or brownish down in most species and leave the nest immediately after hatching.

Rails are distributed throughout the world except in polar regions. About 132 species are recognized, some of which are important game birds. Two such game species of North America are the clapper rail, Rallus longirostris, and the Virginia rail, R. limicola. Despite the fact that they have stubby wings, a high ratio of weight to wing area, and apparently weak flight when flushed, some species migrate long distances, often flying at night. Species of various islands have independently evolved flightlessness. Rails on islands have proved vulnerable to human-caused disturbances, and at least 12 species and subspecies have become extinct within the past 300 years. The flightless rail of Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean is the only species of bird whose extinction is directly attributable to human warfare. It was exterminated during World War II.

The rail family also includes gallinules and coots. Gallinules typically are marsh dwellers, and some have brightly colored forehead shields and iridescent plumage. The coots have lobed toes specialized for swimming and diving.