Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Rails, gallinules, and coots are waterbirds that can be shy or very noticeable. They have bodies that are flattened from side to side, which helps them move through thick plants. Most of these birds have long toes, short rounded wings, and are not very strong fliers, although many travel long distances during migration. Their behaviour and looks vary a lot. Some rails hide away in reedbeds and hardly ever come out, while coots are more confident and feed openly on lakes in parks. Their feathers can be dull browns and greys, helping them blend in, or striking blacks with colourful bare skin on their heads and bills. In Britain, some common examples are the Water Rail, Moorhen, and Coot. They live in wetlands ranging from city ponds to coastal marshes. Worldwide, these birds are found everywhere except Antarctica. They live in a range of watery places such as freshwater marshes, mangroves, and grasslands that flood sometimes. On many islands, some species have lost the ability to fly, which makes them very vulnerable to dying out.