Black rail Laterallus jamaicensis

Identification Tips:

• Length: 4.5 inches
• Very small, chunky, short-tailed, round-winged, ground-dwelling marsh bird
• Black head and breast
• Brown nape
• Dark back and wing coverts with small white spots
• Flanks barred black and white
• Short dark bill
• Rarely flies, therefore, rarely seen
• Sexes similar

Similar species:

Unlikely to be confused with anything but rail chicks. Rail chicks lack white spotting on the upperparts and barring on the flanks.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.