Clapper Rail or King Rail? Big Branch Marsh, Louisiana (1 Viewer)

D

D Halas

Well-known member

• Jul 10, 2016

• #1

Hello all,

I was out at Big Branch Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana this morning. One of the birds I saw was this rail; I'm not sure if it's a Clapper or a King (I've never seen either species.) Both species have been regularly reported on eBird at this precise location, the Boy Scout Road Boardwalk. The bird was silently preening the entire time I was watching it.

 

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njlarsen

Gallery Moderator

Opus Editor

Supporter

• Jul 11, 2016

• #2

I have never seen King Rail, but I believe the weak contrast on the rear flanks should indicate Clapper for this one

Niels

 

K

Kratter

Well-known member

• Jul 11, 2016

• #3

Habitat as well says Clapper Rail. That is a Spartina marsh edit: [no it's not] , indicating tidal salt-water, which is where Clappers occur. King Rails like fresh or brackish water. There may be a bit of overlap, but not in Spartina mashes.

Andy

Edit: Oops! shoudl have waited to look on my desktop!

 

Last edited: Jul 11, 2016

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Jul 11, 2016

• #4

Kratter said:

Habitat as well says Clapper Rail. That is a Spartina marsh, indicating tidal salt-water, which is where Clappers occur. King Rails like fresh or brackish water. There may be a bit of overlap, but not in Spartina mashes.

Andy

Click to expand...

Sorry, but got to disagree on habitat there - I'm seeing Typha and Juncus in the background, and Nymphaea in the foreground, all freshwater plants, particularly the Nymphaea (water-lily), which is 100% reliable ident., and doesn't grow in salt water. No Spartina that I can see.

 

ovenbird43

Well-known member

• Jul 11, 2016

• #5

Nutcracker said:

Sorry, but got to disagree on habitat there - I'm seeing Typha and Juncus in the background, and Nymphaea in the foreground, all freshwater plants, particularly the Nymphaea (water-lily), which is 100% reliable ident., and doesn't grow in salt water. No Spartina that I can see.

Click to expand...

Agreed.

So habitat favors King, but this bird doesn't seem boldly-marked enough to rule out Clapper, especially the relatively bright Gulf Coast race.

 

Kirk Roth

Rarely to be taken seriously

• Jul 11, 2016

• #6

ovenbird43 said:

Agreed.

So habitat favors King, but this bird doesn't seem boldly-marked enough to rule out Clapper, especially the relatively bright Gulf Coast race.

Click to expand...

And while I hate to be "that guy," also note that they hybridize in the gulf coast as well.

I agree with the other comments that the overall color is not bold and orange enough for our typical inland King Rails - would be hard to believe it is a pure one. I don't know whether "pure" Clappers venture into Big Branch Marsh or not - unfortunately range limits of this pair are poorly understood in coastal states, due, as you can imagine, to ID issues.

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Jul 11, 2016

• #7

Does that make it a Kipper Rail, then? o

 

D

D Halas

Well-known member

• Jul 12, 2016

• #8

Thanks for all the replies, everyone! So, a Clapper Rail seems likeliest, either with or without some degree of genetic introgression from King Rail, but a pure King Rail seems to be ruled out. Would anyone object vehemently if I were to enter this on eBird as a Clapper Rail? (In fact, I've already done so. But I'll gladly change it if that seems to be the consensus.)