Black rail
Laterallus jamaicensis
Identification Tips:
- Length: 4.5 inches
- Very small, chunky, short-tailed, round-winged, ground-dwelling
marsh bird
- Black head and breast
- Brown nape
- Dark back and wing coverts with small white spots
- Flanks barred black and white
- Short dark bill
- Rarely flies, therefore, rarely seen
- Sexes similar
Similar species:
Unlikely to be confused with anything but rail chicks. Rail chicks lack
white spotting on the upperparts and barring on the flanks.
Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.