Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots
Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae /See Rails(Rallidae)
Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and tend to be weak fliers. There are 143 species world wide, and 13 North American species. Of the 6 listed birds, the Black Rail is rare, and local; only the Clapper Rail is more common in Summer. All are breeding species except the Sora, which departs from May-Jul(Aug), and which has an extensive Summer Range across North America.
- (–L–) ( * SW) Black Rail, Laterallus jamaicensis found in restricted oceanic coastal areas, Permanent in Lower Colo. R. Valley–LCRV
- ( * SW) Clapper Rail, Rallus longirostris same Note, (more common in Summer: (Mar)Apr-Aug(Sep)
- ( * SW) Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola Permanent
- (SW) Sora, Porzana carolina See Sora (bird), (–Winter Range–), Least common in Summer: May-(Aug)
- ( * SW) Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus Permanent (East: Atlantic coast bird)
- ( * SW) American Coot, Fulica americana Permanent
Read more about this topic: List Of Arizona-SW Birds (Yuma County, Arizona)