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Difference between revisions of "Clapper Rail" - BirdForum Opus

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(Links. References updated)
(→‎External Links: Attempted to remove California records.)
 
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[[Image:Clapper_Rail.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Bird of the California group of subspecies. Birds on the Gulf and Atlantic coasts are less bright on the breast<br />Photo by {{user|Marysan|Marysan}}<br />Imperial Beach, [[California]], [[USA]], December 2004]]
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[[Image:Clapperrail_by_BlueRaven.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo by {{user|BlueRaven|BlueRaven}}<br />Corpus Christi, [[Texas]], January 2009]]
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;[[:Category:Rallus|Rallus]] longirostris
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;[[:Category:Rallus|Rallus]] crepitans
 
==Identification==
 
==Identification==
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*32-41 cm in length, male average 20% larger than female, northern birds larger than southern birds
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*36 cm in length, male average 20% larger than female
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*Upperside in many forms grayish-brown, to pale cinnamon in some birds of [[Colombia]] or dark brown in others. Feathers on the back have darker centers.  
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*Upperside in many forms grayish-brown to dark brown in others. Feathers on the back have darker centers.  
 
*Breast varies from bright chestnut to cinnamon to dusky gray to quite dark grey or even vinacious brown. Many subspecies have a dusky band across upper breast.
 
*Breast varies from bright chestnut to cinnamon to dusky gray to quite dark grey or even vinacious brown. Many subspecies have a dusky band across upper breast.
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*Flanks in most subspecies are contrasting white bars with dusky or even black bars; some [[South America]]n subspecies show bars of pale cinnamon on buff or pale grey on cream
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*Flanks in most subspecies are contrasting white bars with dusky or even black bars
 
*Noticeable white patch under tail in most subspecies, but undertail coverts barred with either black or grey in several others
 
*Noticeable white patch under tail in most subspecies, but undertail coverts barred with either black or grey in several others
 
*Bill is strong and long and curves slightly downwards
 
*Bill is strong and long and curves slightly downwards
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In especially the northern populations have been described some very dark individuals, either as result of different morphs, individual variation, or hybridization with [[King Rail]].
 
In especially the northern populations have been described some very dark individuals, either as result of different morphs, individual variation, or hybridization with [[King Rail]].
 
==Distribution==
 
==Distribution==
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It is found along the east coast of [[North America]], the coasts and some islands of the [[Caribbean]], and across northern [[South America]] to eastern [[Brazil]]. On the Pacific coast, it breeds from central [[California]] through [[Mexico]] and again from [[Colombia]] to northwestern [[Peru]].
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It is found along the east coast of [[North America]] and the coasts and some islands of the [[Caribbean]].
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[[Image:Clapperrail_by_BlueRaven.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Bird of the Gulf coast group of subspecies. <br />Photo by {{user|BlueRaven|BlueRaven}}<br />Corpus Christi, [[Texas]], January 2009]]
 
 
==Taxonomy==
 
==Taxonomy==
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''R. wetmorei'', the [[Plain-flanked Rail]], is now considered to be split from ''R. longirostris''.<br><br>
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Formerly considered conspecific with [[Mangrove Rail]] (''R. longirostris'') and [[Ridgway's Rail]] (''R. obsoletus'').
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Clapper Rail and [[King Rail]] (''R. elegans'') are closely related and possibly hybridize where ranges overlap. The two species are sometimes considered conspecific. The status of the Pacific group of subspecies from California to Mexico (first four subspecies in the list) have varied: it has been considered a full species or a subspecies of either Clapper Rail or King Rail in the past. A recent abstract says that these are basal to both King Rail and Atlantic Clapper Rail, and as such are best treated as a full species. Opus is awaiting the position of the world-wide checklists.  
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====Subspecies====
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====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>====
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There are 11 subspecies<sup>[[#References|1]]</sup>:
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*''R. l. obsoletus'' - Northern [[California]] (Humboldt Bay to Monterey Bay)
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*''R. c. crepitans'' - Atlantic coast ([[Connecticut]] to north-eastern [[North Carolina]])
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*''R. l. levipes'' - Southern California (Santa Barbara) to [[Baja California]] (Scammons Lagoon)
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*''R. c. waynei'' - Coastal Atlantic salt marshes (south-eastern North Carolina to eastern [[Florida]])
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*''R. l. yumanensis'' - Salton Sea and [[Colorado]] River basin to western [[Mexico]] (Nayarit)
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*''R. c. saturatus'' - Gulf Coast (south-western [[Alabama]] to [[Texas]] and Tamaulipas)
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*''R. l. beldingi'' - Western Mexico (southern Baja from Magdalena Bay to Espírito Santo Island)
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*''R. c. scotti'' - Coastal Florida (Pensacola to Cape Sable and Jupiter)
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*''R. l. crepitans'' - Atlantic coast ([[Connecticut]] to north-eastern [[North Carolina]])
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*''R. c. insularum'' - Mangrove swamps of Florida Keys
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*''R. l. waynei'' - Coastal Atlantic salt marshes (south-eastern North Carolina to eastern [[Florida]])
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*''R. c. coryi'' - Mangrove swamps of [[Bahamas]]
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*''R. l. saturatus'' - Gulf Coast (south-western [[Alabama]] to [[Texas]] and Tamaulipas)
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*''R. c. pallidus'' - Mangroves of south-eastern Mexico (coastal northern Yucatán Peninsula)
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*''R. l. scotti'' - Coastal Florida (Pensacola to Cape Sable and Jupiter)
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*''R. c. grossi'' - South-eastern Mexico (islands on Chinchorro Bank off Quintana Roo)
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*''R. l. insularum'' - Mangrove swamps of Florida Keys
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*''R. c. belizensis'' - [[Belize]] (Ycacos Lagoon)
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*''R. l. coryi'' - Mangrove swamps of [[Bahamas]]
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*''R. c. leucophaeus'' - Isle of Youth ([[Cuba]])
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*''R. l. pallidus'' - Mangroves of south-eastern Mexico (coastal northern Yucatán Peninsula)
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*''R. c. caribaeus'' - Cuba, [[Hispaniola]] and [[Puerto Rico]] to [[Antigua]] and northern [[Greater Antilles|Antilles]]
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*''R. l. grossi'' - South-eastern Mexico (islands on Chinchorro Bank off Quintana Roo)
 
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*''R. l. belizensis'' - [[Belize]] (Ycacos Lagoon)
 
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*''R. l. leucophaeus'' - Isle of Youth ([[Cuba]])
 
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*''R. l. caribaeus'' - Cuba, [[Hispaniola]] and [[Puerto Rico]] to [[Antigua]] and northern [[Antilles]]
 
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*''R. l. cypereti'' - Coastal south-western [[Colombia]] to [[Ecuador]] (where rare) and just into north-western [[Peru]] (Tumbes)
 
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*''R. l. phelpsi'' - Extreme north-eastern coastal [[Colombia]] and extreme north-western [[Venezuela]]
 
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*''R. l. margaritae'' - Margarita Island (Venezuela)
 
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*''R. l. pelodramus'' - [[Trinidad]]
 
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*''R. l. longirostris'' - Coasts of [[Guyana]], [[Suriname]] and [[French Guiana]]
 
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*''R. l. crassirostris'' - Coastal eastern [[Brazil]] (Amazon estuary to Santa Catarina)
 
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Grassy marches and mangroves. When overlapping in range with [[King Rail]] (Gulf and Atlantic coasts), Clapper Rail normally are found in salt environs while King Rail is limited to freshwater ponds.  
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Grassy marshes and mangroves. When overlapping in range with [[King Rail]] (Gulf and Atlantic coasts), Clapper Rail normally are found in salt environs while King Rail is limited to freshwater ponds.
 +
 
 
==Behaviour==
 
==Behaviour==
 +
This bird is rarely seen flying, which is reflected in the many subspecies found across its range. However, the north east populations in the US are migratory, wintering more southerly along the Atlantic coast.
 
====Diet====
 
====Diet====
 
These birds eat crustaceans, aquatic insects and small fish. They search for food while walking, sometimes probing with their long bills, in shallow water or mud.<br /><br />
 
These birds eat crustaceans, aquatic insects and small fish. They search for food while walking, sometimes probing with their long bills, in shallow water or mud.<br /><br />
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This bird is rarely seen flying, which is reflected in the many subspecies found across its range. However, the north east populations in the US are migratory, wintering more southerly along the Atlantic coast.
 
 
==References==
 
==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thDec10}}#[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=151446 Birdforum thread] discussing the taxonomy of Clapper Rail
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug14}}#{{Ref-GillDonsker14V4.4}}#[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=151446 Birdforum thread] discussing the taxonomy of Clapper Rail
 
{{ref}}
 
{{ref}}
 
==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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{{GSearch|Rallus+longirostris}}
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{{GSearch|"Rallus crepitans" {{!}} "Clapper Rail" -obsoletus -California}}
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Rallus]]
 
[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Rallus]]

Latest revision as of 17:08, 13 June 2023

Photo by BlueRaven
Corpus Christi, Texas, January 2009
Rallus crepitans

Identification

  • 36 cm in length, male average 20% larger than female
  • Upperside in many forms grayish-brown to dark brown in others. Feathers on the back have darker centers.
  • Breast varies from bright chestnut to cinnamon to dusky gray to quite dark grey or even vinacious brown. Many subspecies have a dusky band across upper breast.
  • Flanks in most subspecies are contrasting white bars with dusky or even black bars
  • Noticeable white patch under tail in most subspecies, but undertail coverts barred with either black or grey in several others
  • Bill is strong and long and curves slightly downwards

In especially the northern populations have been described some very dark individuals, either as result of different morphs, individual variation, or hybridization with King Rail.

Distribution

It is found along the east coast of North America and the coasts and some islands of the Caribbean.

Taxonomy

Formerly considered conspecific with Mangrove Rail (R. longirostris) and Ridgway's Rail (R. obsoletus).

Subspecies

There are 11 subspecies1:

  • R. c. crepitans - Atlantic coast (Connecticut to north-eastern North Carolina)
  • R. c. waynei - Coastal Atlantic salt marshes (south-eastern North Carolina to eastern Florida)
  • R. c. saturatus - Gulf Coast (south-western Alabama to Texas and Tamaulipas)
  • R. c. scotti - Coastal Florida (Pensacola to Cape Sable and Jupiter)
  • R. c. insularum - Mangrove swamps of Florida Keys
  • R. c. coryi - Mangrove swamps of Bahamas
  • R. c. pallidus - Mangroves of south-eastern Mexico (coastal northern Yucatán Peninsula)
  • R. c. grossi - South-eastern Mexico (islands on Chinchorro Bank off Quintana Roo)
  • R. c. belizensis - Belize (Ycacos Lagoon)
  • R. c. leucophaeus - Isle of Youth (Cuba)
  • R. c. caribaeus - Cuba, Hispaniola and Puerto Rico to Antigua and northern Antilles

Habitat

Grassy marshes and mangroves. When overlapping in range with King Rail (Gulf and Atlantic coasts), Clapper Rail normally are found in salt environs while King Rail is limited to freshwater ponds.

Behaviour

This bird is rarely seen flying, which is reflected in the many subspecies found across its range. However, the north east populations in the US are migratory, wintering more southerly along the Atlantic coast.

Diet

These birds eat crustaceans, aquatic insects and small fish. They search for food while walking, sometimes probing with their long bills, in shallow water or mud.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2014. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: Version 6.9., with updates to August 2014. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2014. IOC World Bird Names (version 4.4). Available at http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
  3. Birdforum thread discussing the taxonomy of Clapper Rail

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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