The Four Keys to ID
- Size & Shape
Clapper Rails are chickenlike marsh birds with stout bills and stubby tails. They are noticeably larger than similarly shaped Virginia Rails. Clapper Rails look thin when viewed head-on, as if they have been squeezed together from the sides. This “lateral compression” helps them navigate smoothly through the dense vegetation they inhabit.
Relative Size
Larger than a Virginia Rail, smaller than an American Coot.
between robin and crowMeasurements
- Both Sexes
- Length: 12.6-16.1 in (32-41 cm)
- Weight: 9.2-14.1 oz (260-400 g)
- Color Pattern
- Behavior
- Habitat