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]


Genus 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, Dusky   Gallinula tenebrosa    Found: Australia, New Guinea, Indonesia
Photographed by:  1, 2, 3) Dick Daniels - Australia  4) Arthur Chapman


Native-hen, Tasmanian Gallinula mortierii   Found: Tasmania
Photographed by:  1, 3) JJ Harrison - Tasmania, Australia  2) Arthur Chapman Mount Field National Park, Tasmania, Australia



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 Porzana

Crake, Australian Porzana fluminea  Found: Australia
Photographed by: 1) Oystercatcher  2) Tony Morris


Crake, Spotless  Porzana tabuensis  Found: Australasia
Photgraphed by: 1) Oystercatcher  2) Aviceda


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



Genus Gallirallus

Rail, Buff-banded Gallirallus philippensis   Found: Australasia
Photographed by:  1) Dick Daniels: - Kuranda Birdworld, Australia  2) Dick - Kiwi Birdlife Park, New Zealand  3) Oystercatcher


Weka aka Woodhen  Gallirallus australis   Found: New Zealand
Photographed by Arthur Chapman