🐦
King Rail
Rallus elegans
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="rallus-elegans"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/rallus-elegans/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/rallus-elegans/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/rallus-elegans/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="rallus-elegans"></birdfyi-bird>
Near Threatened
Wingspan
31.7 cm
Weight
333.5 g
Family
Rallidae
Order
Gruiformes
About
King Rail (Rallus elegans), 43 cm. Largest Nearctic rail; brown above with a rufous breast and barred flanks; long orange-red bill. Inhabits freshwater and brackish marshes in eastern North America. Omnivore: crayfish, frogs and insects. Near Threatened; declining with wetland loss.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 31.7 cm | 12.5 in |
| Weight | 333.5 g | 11.76 oz |
Habitat & Range
Conservation Status
Near Threatened
IUCN Red List
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Nest type: CP,PL. Incubation: 21-24 days. Fledging: 63-70 days.
Clutch Size
3-15
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Gruiformes (Cranes & Rails) |
| Family | Rallidae (Rails, Crakes & Coots) |
| Genus | Rallus |
| Species | Rallus elegans |
Distribution
King Rail has been recorded in 2 countries.
{# Distribution Map — simplified SVG world map with highlighted countries. Expects `country_codes` variable: list of ISO alpha-2 codes (e.g. ["US", "CA", "MX"]). Uses Alpine.js to toggle classes on country paths. #}
Present
Not recorded
countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the King Rail endangered?
The King Rail has a conservation status of Near Threatened.
How does the King Rail nest?
Nest type: CP,PL. Incubation: 21-24 days. Fledging: 63-70 days.
How big is the King Rail?
The King Rail has a wingspan of 31.7 cm, weight of 333.5 g.
What order and family does the King Rail belong to?
The King Rail (Rallus elegans) belongs to the order Gruiformes and the family Rallidae.
Similar Birds
Other species in the Rallidae family
African Crake
Crex egregia
Least Concern
African Rail
Rallus caerulescens
Least Concern
African Swamphen
Porphyrio madagascariensis
Not Evaluated
Allen's Gallinule
Porphyrio alleni
Least Concern
American Coot
Fulica americana
Least Concern
Andaman Crake
Rallina canningi
Least Concern
Andean Coot
Fulica ardesiaca
Least Concern
Ascension Crake
Mundia elpenor
Extinct