List of Birds of The Turks and Caicos Islands - Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots

Rails, Crakes, Gallinules, and Coots

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.

• Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris
• Sora Porzana carolina (A)
• Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica
• Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
• American Coot Fulica americana
• Caribbean Coot Fulica caribaea