Ridgway's Rail
NameRidgway's Rail
Common NameRidgway's Rail
Scientific NameRallus obsoletus
FamilyRallidae
Wingspan (cm)52
Length (cm)36.5
Weight (g)300
Plumage DetailsUpperparts are olive-brown to grayish-brown with dark streaking. The breast and flanks are a rich cinnamon or rusty-buff, with the flanks often barred with white. The throat is whitish, and the bill is long, slightly decurved, and orange-yellow with a darker tip. Legs are yellowish-brown.
Vocalization / CallKnown for a distinctive, loud, clattering call, often described as a 'kek-kek-kek-kek' or 'chack-chack-chack' series, which can accelerate and slow down.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatswetland, coastal
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Geographic RangeFound along the Pacific coast of North America, from California south to Baja California, Mexico.
Identifying FeaturesLong, slightly decurved orange-yellow bill with a darker tip, rusty-buff breast and flanks, streaked olive-brown back, long yellowish legs, secretive behavior in dense marsh vegetation
Description
A medium-sized, secretive marsh bird with a long, slightly decurved bill. It typically forages in dense vegetation along the edges of brackish and saltwater marshes, often wading in shallow water.
