Overview
Adults have brown upperparts streaked with black, a yellowish-brown breast, a light belly and barred flanks. The short thick dark bill turns yellow in males during the breeding season. The feathers on the back are edged with white. There is a yellow-brown band over the eye and the legs are greenish-yellow.
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Bird
- Family
- Rallidae
- Genus
- Coturnicops
- Species
- noveboracensis
Habitat
Wet meadows, fens and shallow marshes.
Diet
Small invertebrates, seeds.
Behavior
The yellow rail is very elusive and seldom seen. They generally call at night resembling the sound of two stones being clicked together tik-tik tik-tik-tik in repetition. When approached, they are more likely to rely on camouflage and escaping on foot through dense vegetation, rather than flushing.
Hunting
More information needed.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.