Sandhill Crane in a field of wildflowers

Rails, Coots, Soras, Gallinules, Cranes and Limpkins

Families: Rallidae, Aramidae, Gruidae

These families include 14 species found in North America. All of them inhabit marsh wetlands where they consume vegetation and small animals but the feeding habits vary greatly. Cranes are often seen due in part to their size but Limpkins are secretive and solitary, rails and soras are skulkers and secretive where coots and gallinules are often found in the open.