List of Birds of Saint Helena - Rails, Crakes and Gallinules

Rails, Crakes and Gallinules

Order: Gruiformes Family: Rallidae

Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. Typically they inhabit 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 be weak fliers. There are about 135 species worldwide and 4 species which occur in Saint Helena.

• Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio (A)
• Allen's Gallinule Porphyrio alleni (A)
• Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica (A)
• Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus