Rails, Crakes & Coots of South Africa

15 rails, crakes and coots have been recorded in South Africa on eBird, the global citizen-science database run by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and carry a full profile in the Birbs encyclopedia. Every bird below is a member of this group — the family Rallidae. Start with the well-known species, browse the complete list, then check which are being reported near you right now.

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Rails, Crakes & Coots of South Africa to know first

• African RailRallus caerulescens
• African SwamphenPorphyrio madagascariensis
• Allen’s GallinulePorphyrio alleni
• Baillon’s CrakeZapornia pusilla
• Black CrakeZapornia flavirostra
• Common MoorhenGallinula chloropus
• Corn CrakeCrex crex
• Lesser MoorhenParagallinula angulata
• Little CrakeZapornia parva
• Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinica
• Red-knobbed CootFulica cristata
• Spotted CrakePorzana porzana
• Striped CrakeAenigmatolimnas marginalis
• White-breasted WaterhenAmaurornis phoenicurus

The full list — 15 rails, crakes and coots of South Africa in our library

• African Crake
• African Rail
• African Swamphen
• Allen’s Gallinule
• Baillon’s Crake
• Black Crake
• Common Moorhen
• Corn Crake
• Lesser Moorhen
• Little Crake
• Purple Gallinule
• Red-knobbed Coot
• Spotted Crake
• Striped Crake
• White-breasted Waterhen

Keep exploring

• Birds of South Africa
• Hawks, Eagles & Kites of South Africa (51 species)
• Old World Flycatchers & Chats of South Africa (42 species)
• Sandpipers & Allies of South Africa (37 species)
• Petrels & Shearwaters of South Africa (35 species)
• Ducks, Geese & Swans of South Africa (33 species)
• Gulls, Terns & Skimmers of South Africa (33 species)
• Cisticolas & Allies of South Africa (32 species)
• Larks of South Africa (27 species)
• Weavers of South Africa (25 species)
• Wagtails & Pipits of South Africa (24 species)
• Waxbills & Munias of South Africa (23 species)
• Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of South Africa (21 species)
• Plovers of South Africa (20 species)
• Swallows & Martins of South Africa (19 species)
• Cuckoos of South Africa (18 species)

Rails, Crakes & Coots in other regions

• Rails, Crakes & Coots of Brazil (33 species)
• Rails, Crakes & Coots of Colombia (29 species)
• Rails, Crakes & Coots of Indonesia (29 species)
• Rails, Crakes & Coots of Peru (29 species)
• Rails, Crakes & Coots of Ecuador (28 species)
• Rails, Crakes & Coots of Argentina (26 species)
• Rails, Crakes & Coots of the United States (21 species)
• Rails, Crakes & Coots of India (20 species)
• Rails, Crakes & Coots of Australia (19 species)
• Rails, Crakes & Coots of Mexico (18 species)
• Rails, Crakes & Coots of the Philippines (18 species)

Species and counts come from the eBird network; "recorded" means reported by birders to eBird. Family grouping follows the IOC World Bird List. Tap any bird for its full profile.