KING RAIL
208. Rallus elegans. 18 in.
Back handsomely patterned with black, olive-brown and gray; wing coverts
reddish-brown; neck and breast, rich cinnamon-brown, brightest on the
breast. Sides sharply barred with black and white. This species is the
handsomest of the rails, and is the most distinctly and brightly marked.
They are excellent runners and are very difficult to start from the
marsh grass within which they are concealed. They are usually found in
fresh water marshes, while the next species is most abundant in salt
marshes; they are both often found in the same place and must be seen at
close range to distinguish them.
Notes.—A loud “bup, bup, bup” repeated and ending in a roll. (Chapman).
Nest.—Of grass and weeds on the ground in marshes. The eggs are pale
buff, spotted with reddish-brown (1.6 × 1.2); June.
Range.—Breeds from the Gulf coast north to Conn., Ont., and Minn.
Winters in southern U. S.
[Illustration: ]
CLAPPER RAIL
211. Rallus crepitans. 15 in.
General color above olive-grayish, with no strong black markings; breast
pale brown; flanks barred with gray and white. This species is found
almost exclusively in salt marshes, where they skulk about like rats.
During exceptionally high tides, when their hiding places are covered,
many of them are killed by negroes and white men for food; they can
swim, but usually run across the marsh, making use of blades of grass,
sticks or whatever trash may be in their course, as stepping stones.
Notes.—Loud and clacking like those of the King Rail.
Nest.—Of grasses on the ground in salt marshes; 6 to 14 buffy eggs,
spotted with brown (1.70 × 1.20).
Range.—Salt marshes of the Atlantic coast, north to Mass. The following
subspecies are darker and very locally distributed. 211a, Louisiana
Clapper (R. c. saturatus), coast of La. 211b, Scott Clapper (R. c.
scotti), Gulf coast of Fla. 211c, Wayne Clapper (R. e. waynei), east
coast of Fla. to S. C.
[Illustration: ]
VIRGINIA RAIL
212. Rallus virginianus. 9.5 in.
Coloration almost exactly like that of the King Rail, but the bird is
much smaller. Like that species, this one prefers fresh water marshes.
They have a great aversion to flying, and, like other rails, will trust
to their legs for safety, should danger threaten; probably no other
birds are as dexterous as the rails in threading their way through the
close standing rushes. Although they do not have webbed feet, they can
swim fairly well, and also dive, but they do so only when they are
forced to. They look extremely awkward as they run over the trash on the
marsh, their head and neck erect and extended, with their head rapidly
turning from side to side as though looking for a place of safety.
Notes.—A guttural, rattling “cut-cut-cut-ee.”
Nest.—Of grasses, on the ground or in tufts of rushes; eggs
creamy-white, specked with brown (1.25 × .90); May, June.
Range.—Breeds in the northern half of the United States and southern
Canada; winters in southern U. S.
[Illustration: ]
CAROLINA RAIL; SORA
214. Porzana Carolina. 8.5 in.
Adults with the face and throat black. Young with no black on the head.
This species is not apt to be confused with any, except, possibly, the
Virginia Rail, which is somewhat larger, and always has the breast
conspicuously cinnamon color. These birds are very abundant in nearly
their whole range, but they are so secretive in their habits that their
presence is often not noticed. Unless disturbed, they pass the greater
portion of the day in slumber, and do most of their feeding after dusk,
when their confused, clucking notes are heard all over the marshes. All
of the rails have this habit of feeding chiefly at night, perhaps
through fear of enemies during the daytime, for they seem to be very
timid birds.
Notes.—A rapid clucking, “kuk, kuk, kuk,” etc.
Nest.—A rude structure of grass and rushes on the ground in either salt
or fresh marshes; 6 to 16 buff colored eggs with reddish brown specks.
Range.—Breeds in the northern half of the U. S. and northwards; winters
in the southern half.
[Illustration: ]
YELLOW RAIL
215. Coturnicops noveboracensis. 7 in.
This is a handsome bird, the entire plumage having a glossy lustre. The
back is blackish, with all the feathers edged with white, while the
head, neck and breast have a peculiar yellowish-brown shade.
Nest.—On the ground; made of rushes and grass woven and twisted
together; the 6 to 12 eggs are rich buff color, specked in a wreath
about the large end, with reddish-brown; size 1.10 × .80; June.
Range.—Breeds in northern U.S. and southern Canada; winters in the
southern states.
BLACK RAIL
216. Creciscus jamaicensis. 5 in.
Much smaller than any of our other rails; very dark.
Notes.—A peculiar, loud clicking sound.
Nest.—Of grass and rushes, well cupped to receive the 6 to 12 eggs;
these are creamy white, speckled with reddish brown (1.03 × .75); June.
Range.—Breeds in the United States north to Mass., southern Minn, and
Oregon. Winters in the West Indies and Central America.
[Illustration: ]
PURPLE GALLINULE
218. Ionornis martinicus. 13 in.
Bill shorter and stouter than that of the rails, and with a hard shield
at the base, that extends on the forehead to the top of the head. This
species is beautifully colored with purplish-red and blue on the
underparts, and greenish on the back and wings; legs yellow; bill
carmine, tipped with yellow. The habits of the gallinules are
practically the same as those of the rails. They inhabit marshes, where
they creep cautiously but rapidly through the upright stalks, or run
over the slimy surface, where none but birds with extremely long toes
could get a foothold. Their powers of flight are weak, and they do not
take wing unless they are cornered or wish to cross some stream.
Nest.—Woven of grasses and rushes, and placed either on the ground or
attached to living rushes, usually over the water; their 5 to 10 eggs
are rich cream color, spotted with reddish brown (1.60 × 1.15).
Range.—Breeds in eastern United States, north to North Carolina and
southern Illinois; winters south of the U. S.
[Illustration: ]
FLORIDA GALLINULE
219. Gallinula galeata. 13 in.
Bill and crown plate, red, tipped with yellow; legs greenish with a red
ring around the top; plumage gray changing to blackish on the head and
neck. Florida Gallinules are very noisy, especially during the mating
and breeding season, and marshes in the south, where they breed by
hundreds, fairly ring with their cries chuckles and squawks. They have
an almost endless variety of notes but all of them are harsh and
explosive. At times they appear to be stupid, and allow anyone to
approach in a boat, near enough to touch them with an oar. When
frightened, and with no protecting rushes to conceal them, they will
rush off over the grass and water, with much spattering and squawking.
Nest.—Usually fastened in the marsh grass or flags above water; made of
rushes and grass; the eggs are similar to those of the Purple Gallinule
but are duller.
Range.—Breeds north to southern New England, Ontario, Minnesota and
Oregon; winters in southern U. S.
[Illustration: ]
AMERICAN COOT
221. Fulica americana. 15 in.
Bill and frontal shield as in the gallinules, but the bill is whitish
with a blackish ring near the tip; each individual toe is furnished with
a large scalloped web; otherwise their plumage is grayish like that of
the Florida Gallinule. Coots are, locally, very abundant throughout
temperate North America in summer. Like gallinules, they inhabit reedy
pools, sluggish streams and boggy marshes, where they are at least safe
from human pursuit. They conceal themselves among the reeds, so as to
escape observation, taking wing only when they are obliged to. They are
expert swimmers, and can dive and swim for long distances under water;
in this respect they have a decided advantage over the rails and
gallinules.
Nest.—Like that of the gallinules; 6 to 15 grayish eggs, finely speckled
with black (1.80 × 1.30). May, June.
Range.—Breeds throughout temperate America, rare on the North Atlantic
coast; winters in southern U. S.
[Illustration: ]
SHORE BIRDS—Order Limicolæ
PHALAROPES—Family Phalaropodidæ
RED PHALAROPE
222. Phalaropus fulicarius. 8 in.
Bill heavier than any of the other phalaropes; feet lobate-webbed.
Adults in summer have the entire underparts reddish brown; side of head
white; upper parts gray, white and black. In winter, head and underparts
are white; back gray. Phalaropes differ from any other of our birds, in
that the female is the larger and brighter plumaged bird, and the duties
of incubation are largely or chiefly performed by the male bird. These
phalaropes are very rarely seen in the United States in their breeding
plumage; when they come in the Fall, nearly all have changed to their
dull winter dress, and they keep this until after they leave us in the
Spring.
Nest.—A hollow in the ground, lined with a few grasses; eggs greenish
buff, spotted with blackish.
Range.—Breeds in the Arctic regions; winters south to New York, Calif.,
and Ohio, chiefly on the sea coasts.
[Illustration: ]
NORTHERN PHALAROPE
223. Lobipes lobatus. 7.5 in.
Bill short and slender. Female in summer with reddish-brown breast; gray
upper parts mixed with white and buff; throat and belly, white. Male,
similar but duller colored. In winter, the upper parts are gray mixed
with white, and the underparts are pure white. This is a maritime
species that nests in the far north, and appears on our coast only for a
short time during migrations. Like the last, they are expert swimmers
and pass most of their time, when not breeding, upon the surface of the
water, where they can outride the most severe storms in safety. They
feed upon minute insects that they secure from beds of floating kelp.
Notes.—A sharp, rapidly repeated, metallic “tweet.”
Nest.—A grass-lined hollow in the ground; eggs greenish-buff, spotted
with black (1.30 × .90).
Range.—Breeds from Labrador, Hudson Bay and Alaska northward. Winters
south of the United States, migrating along both coasts, and to some
extent in the interior.
[Illustration: ]
WILSON PHALAROPE
224. Steganopus tricolor. 9 in.
Bill long and slender. Female in summer with a black line through eye,
shading into a broad stripe of rich chestnut on the sides of the neck.
Male much duller colored and slightly smaller. This phalarope is one of
the most beautiful of all our shore birds, and is the most southerly
distributed of the phalaropes. It is a bird of the interior, and is only
rarely or casually met with on the sea coasts. It commonly travels about
in small companies instead of large flocks as the other two species do,
and is not as often seen on the water, although it can swim well.
Notes.—Usually silent, but has a low quack.
Nest.—Of grasses, on the ground, usually concealed in a tuft of grass,
and near the border of a marsh or pond; the 3 or 4 eggs are brownish or
greenish-buff with black markings (1.30 × .90); June.
Range.—Breeds chiefly in the interior, from Iowa and California, north
to Hudson Bay; winters south of the U. S.
[Illustration: ]