Black Rail

Like the Yellow Rail, Black Rails are extremely secretive birds, and are rarely seen by humans.  They are the smallest of the rails found in the United States, just sparrow sized.  In their marsh habitat, they rarely fly, instead prefering to move through marsh vegetation on foot, often using the pathways and openings created by small rodents.  Given their behavior, their status inland in most of the U.S. is something of a mystery.  Indeed, Black Rails had never been confirmed in South Dakota until 2010, when breeding was confirmed in the northeast part of the state.  The best chance for a birder to come across a Black Rail is by hearing the male's territorial calls late at night.  Mimicking the bird's calls can even sometimes lure the birds into visual range of a flashlight.

Habitat: Black Rails are found near the highest tide line in coastal marshes.  Inland, they tend to be found in areas with very shallow water, or even just moist soil, with signfiicant marsh vegetation.

Diet: Diet isn't well known, they probably feed on a variety of food items, including both vegetation (primarily seeds of marsh plants) and insects and small invertebrates.

Behavior: Black Rails are rarely ever seen in flight, as they prefer to scamper away on foot through their marshy habitat if they are disturbed.  They do appear to feed during both day and night.

Breeding: There is insufficient data on breeding status within South Dakota, although breeding was confirmed in the northeastern part of the state in 2010.

Song:  Male Black Rails sing a short territorial call, primarily late at night.  The call is typically comprised of a pair of higher notes followed by a lower note, but the number of notes is variable. 

Migration: Birds in California and elsehwere in the West appear to be permanent residents.  Black Rails do appear to withdraw from northern areas in the winter, however.  Inland birds, particularly those in the north, are likely strongly migratory, while those along the East Coast may only be short-distance migrants.

Similar Species: Generally distinctive in appearance

2) Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Black Rail

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