Black Rail
© Lee Snyder 2010. All Rights Reserved.
The Black Rail is a secretive, year-round resident of marshes along much of the upper Gulf and Atlantic Coasts. They also winter in south Florida and migrants may be encountered statewide (although rarely). Black Rails are the smallest North American rail species, and they are extremely difficult to see (one of the most challenging, in fact). However, in spring, they can be heard singing at night, or during early morning or late evening. Black Rails nest on the ground and are rarely seen in flight, as they prefer to creep low to the ground amidst dense cover.
For more information, including a range map and sound recording, visit The Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds website.
Recommended GFBWT sites:
- Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge
- Road to Nowhere
-
St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge: St. Marks Unit
Bird's habitat
The Black Rail can be found in both salt and freshwater marshes.
