Rails, Gallinules and Coots Rallidae
This family is divided into 34 genera, of which 5 are thus far described below. There are 137 species. The Guam Rail Gallirallus owstoni is extinct in the wild. 3 species are critically endangered: the New Caledonian Rail Gallirallus lafresnayanus, Samoan Moorhen Gallinula pacifica, and the Makira Moorhen Gallinula silvestris. Another 12 are considered endangered, 18 are vulnerable, and 11 are considered near-threatened.



Rallus

There are 9 species within this genus. The Plain-flanked Rail Rallus wetmorei and Bogota Rail Rallus semiplumbeus are endangered, and the Austral Rail Rallus antarcticus and the Madagascar Rail Rallus madagascariensis are vulnerable.

Mainly a saltwater and brackish water species, the Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris is typically found in coastal areas of the United States, south through the West Indies, to Brazil. This individual was photographed near Galveston, Texas.




Aramides

There are 7 species within this genus. The Brown Wood-rail Aramides wolfi is vulnerable.

Grey-necked Wood-rail Aramides cajanea at the Bosque del Rio Tigre, near Puerto Jimenez, Puntarenas, Costa Rica, April 2009.







Porzana

There are 13 species within this genus. The Dot-winged Crake Porzana spiloptera and Henderson Crake Porzana atra are vulnerable. The Band-bellied Crake Porzana paykullii is near-threatened.

The Sora Porzana carolina is a small rail that breeds in marshes of northern Canada and the United States. They migrate south for the winter to the southern United States, through Central America and the Caribbean, to northern South America. This individual was photographed at the Gilbert Water Ranch, Arizona.





Porphyrio

There are 5 species within this genus. The Takahe Porphyrio hochstetteri is endangered.

The very distinctive Purple Gallinule Porphyrio martinica or "swamp hen" is well adapted to walking on fragile lily pads with their extremely long toes. They can be found in swamps and marses from the southeastern United States, south to northern Argentina. This adult was photographed at the Santo Domingo botanical gardens, Dominican Republic.





Gallinula

There are 9 species within this genus. The Samoan Moorhen Gallinula pacifica and the Makira Moorhen Gallinula silvestris are critically endangered. The Gough Moorhen Gallinula comeri is vulnerable.

The Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus is found on every continent except Australasia and the Antarctica. They are found in a wide range of natural and man-made freshwater wetlands. Photographed at Pena Blanca Lake, near Nogales, Santa Cruz County, Arizona.





Fulica

There are 11 species within this genus. The Hawaiian Coot Fulica alai is vulnerable, and the Caribbean Coot Fulica caribaea and Horned Coot Fulica cornuta are near-threatened.

American Coots Fulica americana can be found from southeastern Alaska south to Colombia and northern Ecuador. They also winter in the Hawaiian Islands. Rare vagrants have wandered as far as western Europe. They are commonly found in wetland areas such as marh-fringed lakes and ponds. Photographed at Agua Caliente Park, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona.





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