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, flufftails, 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 144 species worldwide and 12 species which occur in Madagascar.
| Common Name | Scientific Name | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Madagascar Flufftail* | Sarothrura insularis | |
| Slender-billed Flufftail* | Sarothrura watersi | |
| Madagascar Wood-rail* | Canirallus kioloides | |
| Tsingy Wood Rail* | Mentocrex beankaensis | |
| Madagascar Rail* | Rallus madagascariensis | |
| White-throated Rail | Dryolimnas cuvieri | |
| Sakalava Rail* | Amaurornis olivieri | |
| Baillon's Crake | Porzana pusilla | |
| Purple Swamphen | Porphyrio porphyrio | |
| Allen's Gallinule | Porphyrio alleni | |
| Common Moorhen | Gallinula chloropus | |
| Red-knobbed Coot | Fulica cristata |
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Madagascar