About Rails, Crakes & Coots

Overview

The Rails, Crakes & Coots are a family of birds (Latin: Rallidae) within the order Cranes and Allies. Worldwide the family includes about 38 genera and 153 species. Its members are primarily distributed across South America, Australasia, the Oriental Region. Notable genera include Gallirallus, Zapornia, Rallus. Gruiformes are a diverse order of 190 species that includes the cranes, rails, coots, flufftails and allies, inhabiting wetlands, grasslands and forests worldwide.

Classification

Family: Rallidae (Rails, Crakes & Coots); Order: Cranes and Allies; about 38 genera and 153 species.

Distribution

Primarily across South America, Australasia, the Oriental Region.