Just a sliver more information - King Rail has also been seen within the last ten years at Horicon Marsh - central Wisconsin.
(I was only one of many who saw it on the Marsh Road) Al Schirmacher Muscotah, KS (formerly Princeton, MN) > Date: Tue, 27 May 2014 15:02:38 -0500 > From: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [mou-net] Rail sighting (photos) in Zumbrota (Goodhue County) > To: [email protected] > > Hi all - > > The bird in Elijah's yard in Zumbrota is not a Virginia Rail, unless the > images are completely misleading. Among other things, the bill appears too > large and is not red enough, the amount of gray in the cheeks is too limited, > and the legs too dull. What I cannot necessarily rule out, however, is the > possibility of this being a Gulf Coast Clapper Rail, which closely resembles > a King Rail and has been recorded at least as far north as Nebraska. King > Rail, of course, would be more likely in MN since it formerly bred in the > state, although the most recent confirmed record was over 20 years ago. This > rail should definitely be checked out and documented by others, and my > compliments to Elijah and his wife for their nice images and for getting the > news out so promptly. > > > Kim R Eckert, Duluth > http://www.mbwbirds.com > > > > On May 27, 2014, at 1:48 PM, Elijah Parker wrote: > > Several people have suggested that it's a Virginia Rail, which I really > should more seriously considered earlier (I had originally dismissed it due > to the coloring -- most depictions of the Virginia Rail have significantly > stronger coloring on the bill and eye, the the part where the wing overlaps > the tail seems different). > > Upon further research, the main difference seems to be the size. As for > size, this bird is definitely bigger than a Blue Jay, but necessarily as > large as a Crow. > > I don't want to mislead anyone into thinking it's something it's not -- so > please keep in mind I am not familiar with Rails and didn't realize how > significant a King Rail would be. > > Still, to me, a King Rail seems most likely (when the significance is not > considered). > > It's still here if anyone wants to check it out. 385 W 3rd St, Zumbrota, MN > 55992. Call my cell for updates if you're heading this way: 612-492-1010. > > Any other advice is appreciated. > > Thanks! > > Elijah > > > > > > > On Tue, May 27, 2014 at 1:36 PM, Hoeger-Lerdal <[email protected]> wrote: > > > how big was it? Virginia Rail is the default rail like this in MN---but > > they are much smaller, more like blue jay size. > > King Rail is like Crow size? > > > > > > > > On May 27, 2014, at 1:04 PM, Elijah Parker wrote: > > > >> My wife just spotted it in our garden! Here are some photos: > >> > > https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152109521456074.1073741826.728076073&type=1&l=f165b92d5a > >> > >> It was seen at 11:30am in our yard in Zumbrota at the corner of West 3rd > >> Street and Mill > >> > >> I'm assuming it would be a King Rail, but in some ways it looks a little > >> more like a Gulf Coast Clapper Rail. Can anyone confirm? > >> > >> Thanks! > >> > >> Elijah Parker > >> > >> ---- > >> Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > >> Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > > > > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html > > > ---- > Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net > Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
