Photo: lwolfartist / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
King Rail
Rallus elegans
King Rail (Rallus elegans) — Cranes & Rails of North America.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The King Rail (Rallus elegans) is a member of the Rallidae family found in Central America & Caribbean and North America. Adults weigh 313 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Close to qualifying for a threatened category in the near future.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
- Genus Rallus
- Species elegans
Quick facts
- Weight
- 313 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Near Threatened
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Endangered
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The King Rail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The King Rail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The King Rail (Rallus elegans) is a species of bird in the Rallidae family, part of the order Gruiformes. It occurs naturally across Central America & Caribbean and North America. Its distribution covers NA, MA e, c.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 313 g, with a wing length of about 15.8 cm and a tail of around 5.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened. That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 3.2 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the King Rail?
The King Rail is a large bird that weighs around 313 g.
Where does the King Rail live?
The King Rail is found across Central America & Caribbean and North America with a range covering NA, MA e, c, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the King Rail belong to?
The King Rail (Rallus elegans) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the King Rail eat?
The King Rail hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the King Rail migrate?
The King Rail is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the King Rail endangered?
The IUCN Red List lists it as Near Threatened That means it is close to qualifying as threatened and is worth keeping a careful eye on.
What sound does the King Rail make?
1 real field recording of the King Rail — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the King Rail's range?
The King Rail has a mapped global range of about 3.2 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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