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Range (Breeds in salt-water marshes)

Breeds in salt-water marshes of eastern North America from Connecticut to the Gulf of Mexico; winters in small numbers from near the northern limit of its range southward.

Washington, A. V., one record. Long Island, common S. R., Apl. to Oct., a few winter. Sing Sing, A. V.

Nest, of grasses, on the ground, in grass-grown, salt-water marshes. Eggs, eight to twelve, buffy white, spotted and speckled with rufous-brown, 1-72 x 1.20. The Clapper Rail is an inhabitant of grassy, salt-water marshes, and, in the southern parts of its range, of mangrove swamps. It is almost impossible to flush these birds unless their haunts are invaded by an unusually high tide, when a boat may be pushed through the meadows and the birds forced to take wing. I have heard birds calling in the tall grass within a few feet of me, and have made a wild rush in their direction, only to be mocked a moment later by apparently the same bird calling from a point almost within reach. They dodge about over well-traveled pathways like children in a game of blindman's buff. While not strictly gregarious, they live in colonies, and the long, rolling call of one bird is sometimes taken up and repeated by others until there is a general outcry through the marsh. 211a. R. 1. saturatus Hensh. LOUISIANA CLAPPER RAIL.-A local race of the Clapper Rail found in the marshes of Louisiana. Its characters appear not to be well understood. It is much darker than crepitans, but not so dark as scottii. "W., 5.65; Tar., 1.97; B., 2.27" (Ridgw.).