Rails, Crakes and Coots
Order: Gruiformes. Family: Rallidae
These birds mainly occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, marshes, or rivers. Many 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. There are about 135 species worldwide, 11 in Britain.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Water Rail | Rallus aquaticus | A resident breeding species |
| Spotted Crake | Porzana porzana | A scarce breeding summer visitor |
| Sora | Porzana carolina | A rare vagrant |
| Little Crake | Porzana parva | A rare vagrant |
| Baillon's Crake | Porzana pusilla | A rare vagrant, formerly bred |
| Corn Crake | Crex crex | A breeding summer visitor |
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | A resident breeding species |
| Allen's Gallinule | Porphyrio alleni | A rare vagrant |
| American Purple Gallinule | Porphyrio martinica | A rare vagrant |
| Coot | Fulica atra | A resident breeding species |
| American Coot | Fulica americana | A rare vagrant |
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Great Britain