Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
Order: Gruiformes. Family: Rallidae
Rallidae is a large family of small- to medium-sized birds that includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy 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 that are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and be weak fliers. In Tasmania, eight species have been recorded, one endemic and another a vagrant.
- Purple Swamphen, Porphyrio porphyrio
- Lewin's Rail, Lewinia pectoralis
- Australian Spotted Crake, Porzana fluminea
- Spotless Crake, Porzana tabuensis
- Dusky Moorhen, Gallinula tenebrosa
- Tasmanian Native-hen, Tribonyx mortierii (E)
- Black-tailed Native-hen, Tribonyx ventralis (V)
- Eurasian Coot, Fulica atra
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Tasmania