page_title: List of birds of Ontario
section_title: Rails, gallinules, and coots
hierarchical_section_title: List of birds of Ontario / Rails, gallinules, and coots
caption_attribution_description: Foulque d'Amérique (Fulica americana)
context_page_description: This list of birds of Ontario includes all the bird species recorded in the Canadian province of Ontario as determined by the Ontario Bird Records Committee. As of July 2020 there were 501 species on this list, 291 of which are known to breed in the province. Ontario has a considerable variety of bird species. One of the factors in this diversity is the size and range of environments in Ontario. Another is the Great Lakes; many birds use the shores as a stopping point during migration.
  The OBRC Checklist divides the province into the Lowlands, Central, and South review zones and requests documentation of sightings of birds which are rare or accidental in one, two, or all of the zones. Of the 496 species on the list, 168 are noted as rare anywhere in the province and another 108 are rare in one or two of the zones. Eight species have been introduced to North America. One species has been extirpated, one is extinct, and another might be.
  This list is presented in the taxonomic sequence of the Check-list of North and Middle American Birds, 7th edition through the 61st Supplement, published by the American Ornithological Society.
context_section_description: Order: Gruiformes   Family: Rallidae
  Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, gallinules, and coots. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general, they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers.
  King rail, Rallus elegans (B)
  Virginia rail, Rallus limicola (B)
  Sora, Porzana carolina (B)
  Common gallinule, Gallinula galeata (B)
  American coot, Fulica americana (B)
  Purple gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus (A)
  Yellow rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis (B)
  Black rail, Laterallus jamaicensis (A)
caption: American coot
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