Black Rail

15 cm (6") Uncommon and local. Marshes, swamps, wet meadows. Smallest rail. Very secretive.

Almost all blackish except for some chestnut on upper back and white spots on back. Black bill in adult. Told from black chicks of other rails by its barred sides.

Song: repeated "kik-kee-doo" given late at night.

Images

Credit: Ashok Khosla

Credit: Danika Tsao, USGS