The coots, moorhens, crakes, and rails of the Railidae family generally occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. They are omnivores. Most nest in dense vegetation. Most species walk and run vigorously on strong legs, and have long toes which are well adapted to soft, uneven surfaces. A few coots and gallinules have a "frontal shield", which is a fleshy rearward extension of the upper bill. The flight of those Rallidae able to fly, while not very powerful, can be sustained for long periods of time and many species undertake annual migrations. [abstracted from Wikipedia]


Gwnus Fulica

Coot aka Eurasian Coot Fulica atra   Found: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 4) Dick Daniels - England



Genus Gallinula

Moorhen, Common Gallinula chloropus   Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa
Photographed by: 1) Dick Daniels - North Carolina  2) Dick - England    3, 6) Dick - the Galapagos 
    5, 8) Dick - Birds of Eden, South Africa  4) Sandy Cole - Birds of Eden  7) Dick - Jamaica
8) Juvenile identified by Charlie Westeinen
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Genus Porphyrio

Swamphen, Purple  aka Pukeko Porphyrio porphyrio   Found: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia, introduced - Florida
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Australia  3) JJ Harrison - Australia



Genus Amaurornis

Waterhen, White-breasted  Amaurornis phoenicurus  Found: Asia
Drawn / Photographed by: 1) John Gould   2) Charles Lam   3) Bhardwaj Shanthanu - India 
    4) Darren Bellerby - Hong Kong Wetland Park, Hong Kong



Genus Porzana

Crake, Ruddy-breasted  Porzana fusca   Found: Asia 
Photographed by: 1, 2) Hiyashi Haka


Crake, White-browed  Porzana cinerea  Found: Australia, Asia 
Photographed by  1) JJ Harrison - Thailand  2) P Henne




Genus Rallus

Rail, Water  Rallus aquaticus  Found: Europe, Asia
Photographed by: Jan Svetlík