Features: The King Rail (Rallus elegans) is a large, chicken-sized marsh bird with a long bill, brown streaked back, rich brown breast and bold barring on the flanks. It inhabits shallow, densely vegetated freshwater marshes but is rarely seen. It is the largest of the six rail species found in North America.

Status: Endangered Provincially and Nationally

Range: The King Rail has a wide breeding distribution across eastern North America from the Great Plains, east to the Atlantic Ocean, and from southern Ontario south to the Gulf of Mexico. In Canada, it also has occurred casually or accidentally in Manitoba, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland. In Ontario, it is a very rare summer resident in the larger marshes on the shores of lakes St. Clair, Erie and Ontario. It is likely that fewer than 35 pairs breed in the province. While its status is apparently stable in the southern United States, it is declining at the northern periphery of its range. Range Maps

Threats: Habitat loss resulting from the draining and conversion of wetlands is the major threat to this species. Estimates suggest that more than 80% of all marshes in its Ontario range have been destroyed. In addition, water level changes, the introduction of non-native plants, and siltation may degrade wetlands and make the habitat unsuitable for this rail. Other threats include pesticide poisoning and accidental trapping on the wintering grounds.

Protection: Protection is provided to the King Rail by Ontario's Endangered Species Act, 2007, which prohibits actions such as killing, capturing, possessing, selling or trading the species, or damaging or destroying its habitat. In addition, the rail is protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Convention Act. Although other rail species may be hunted, there is no open season for the King Rail. A National Recovery Team is preparing a plan for the recovery of this species in Ontario. In addition, Ontario's Conservation Land Tax Incentive Program (CLTIP) will provide 100% tax relief to private landowners for the portion of their property (minimum size 0.5 acres) determined to be habitat of species in regulation under the E.S.A. This program recognizes, encourages and supports private land stewardship.

Text Sources: Page 1994; Austen et al. 1994

Last Modified Date: October 2008