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. There are 13 species which occur in Chile.
- Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
- Austral Rail Rallus antarcticus
- Spotted Rail Pardirallus maculatus (A)
- Plumbeous Rail Pardirallus sanguinolentus
- Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica (A)
- Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
- Spot-flanked Gallinule Gallinula melanops
- White-winged Coot Fulica leucoptera
- Slate-colored Coot Fulica ardesiaca
- Red-gartered Coot Fulica armillata
- Red-fronted Coot Fulica rufifrons
- Giant Coot Fulica gigantea
- Horned Coot Fulica cornuta
Read more about this topic: Birds Of Chile