Clapper and King Rail Mate and Produce Seven Offspring

This adult male Clapper Rail (seen here with one of seven chicks) mated with a female King Rail this summer at Oceanside Marine Study Center on Long Island. Their eggs hatched on the Fourth of July and the rails and chicks have been seen at various spots around the preserve.

Although not a common occurance, King and Clapper Rails do mate and produce offspring that look more like the Gulf Coast version of the Clapper Rail with warmer, reddish-brown tones. The Clapper Rail shows a lot of gray including gray cheeks with touches of brown here and there. The King Rail has no gray and is more reddish brown. The King Rail is less commonly seen in our area and is much more secretive. In fact, I have only caught quick glimpses of the King Rail while the Clapper Rail actually crossed the path ten feet in front of me.

Clapper and King Rails are also know as "marsh hens." Both rail species inhabit salt and fresh water marshes up and down the East Coast and Oceanside is probably the best place around to get a look at this species.