Eastern Black Rail
Eastern Black Rail
Seasonal Restriction Dates:
- N/A
Restriction Notes:
- N/A
Photo Credit: USFWS
Short Description from Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation:
The Eastern Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis ssp. jamaicensis) is gray-black in coloration, with white speckled upperparts, and has a grayish crown, a chestnut-colored nape of the neck, and a short tail, as described by Cornell University in 2019. These secretive birds have red eyes, black bills and dusty pink or wine-colored legs. Chicks are covered with a black down that has an oily green sheen, as described by Ridgway and Friedmann in 1941 and later by McMullen in 1944. Juveniles look similar to adults, except their eyes are amber or hazel until 3 months of age, as noted by Cornell University in 2019.
Natural Habitat:
Dense vegetative cover near salt, brackish, or freshwater marshes, or wet sedge meadows.
