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Black Rail

Laterallus jamaicensisOrder: GRUIFORMESFamily: Rails and Coots (Rallidae)
Black Rail Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: All-purpose
  • Eye Color: Red in adults, reddish brown in juveniles.
  • Head Pattern: Capped, Plain
  • Crown Color: Black
  • Forehead Color: Black
  • Nape Color: Brown
  • Throat Color: Black
  • Cere color: No Data
Black Rail Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 15 cm (6 in)
  • Weight: 34 g (1.2 oz)
  • Size: Size 2. Small (5 - 9 in)
  • Color: White, Brown, Black, Gray
  • Underparts: Black with white barring.
  • Upperparts: Black with fine white spotting.
  • Back Pattern: Spotted or speckled
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Black Rail Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Weak fluttering floppy flight with legs dangling.
  • Wingspan Range: 28 cm (11 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Pointed Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Streaked
  • Upper Tail: Black with small white spots.
  • Under Tail: Black
  • Leg Color: Yellow
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Family Rail (Rallidae)_blue
Species Laterallus jamaicensis
Length6 Inches
Wingspan10.5 - 11.5 Inches

Black Rail

Black Rail: Smallest North American rail, mostly dark gray or nearly black with white-speckled back, belly, flanks. Nape and upper back are chestnut-brown. Eyes are red. Eats seeds of aquatic plants, grasses and grains, insects and small marine crustaceans. Weak fluttering flight with legs dangling.

● Song: "kic-kee-doo", "kic-kic-kerr"

● Foraging & Feeding: Black Rail: Feeds on seeds of aquatic plants, grass, insects, and isopods (small crustaceans).

● Breeding & nesting: Black Rail: Four to thirteen brown-spotted, pale pink to white eggs are laid in a deep cup of finely woven soft grass, sedges, or other available vegetation. Nest is usually concealed in a clump of green grass, with grass arched over so it is hidden. Both parents incubate the eggs for about 28 days. Sometimes produces two broods per year.

● Similar species: Black Rail: Resembles chick of other rails, which lack white spots on upperparts and bars on flanks.

Flight Pattern

Weak fluttering floppy flight with legs dangling.
Black Rail Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Black Rail: Nests on marshes and open grasslands from southern New England to the Gulf coast states. Spends winters from the southern Atlantic coast states south to Central America. Preferred habitats include marshes, swamps, and wet meadows.
BreedingMonogamous, Solitary nester
PopulationUncommon to rare
MigrationMost migrate
Weight1.2 Ounces