ID Keys: Large size, richly covered with sharp black and white
barring on flanks, rusty body with dark striping on back, long bill.
The King Rail is the largest of the North
American Rails. They are less shy than many of the rails, and can
sometimes be seen boldly foraging in open shallow waters. They are very
closely related to the Clapper Rail. While the King Rail is a primarily a
bird of fresh water and the Clapper Rail is primarily a bird of salt water, they
do often interbreed where the intermix on brackish near-coastal waters.
Habitat
Uses
a variety of shallow fresh- and brackish-water habitats, provided dense cover is
available.
Diet
Feeds heavily on aquatic insects, especially
beetles. Also feeds on crayfish, crabs, snails, clams, small fish, frogs,
and seeds of aquatic plants.
Behavior
Forages in shallow water, usually in and
around dense cover. However, they are often much less shy than other
rails, foraging out in the open and not particularly shy of a human
observer.
Breeding
Only a handful
of breeding records in South Dakota (SDOU, 2001).
Song
Sharp kek-kek-kek-kek.
Migration
Summers throughout much of the eastern
half of the United States. Birds in the northern part of its range
move southward to the southeastern U.S. in winter, while those at the
southern part of its range are permanent residents.
