Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)
Rallus obsoletus
(formerly Rallus longirostris)
As with most members of the “Rail” clan, due to their shy nature, they are more often heard than seen. The Clapper Rail group is found in salt marshes and mangrove swamps. It is more common in the eastern USA and eastern South America. In the western USA it is less common. It is threatened and endangered in the west because of destruction of the coastal marshland habitat. Scientists disagree on the sub-species in this group. Some believe the King Rail and the Aztec Rail should be included here.
Addendum: In 2014 the Clapper Rail subspecies were given species status. The west coastal “Light-Footed Clapper Rail” became the Ridgway’s Rail (Rallus obsoletus levipes), and the “Yuma Clapper Rail” became the subspecies Rallus obsoletus yumanensis by order of the high command of the American Ornithological Union. [I think I have that right]

Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus) |
Description: Skulking at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County USA 2013-03-15. |
Date Taken: 2013:03:15 7:51 |
Location:
Bayfront Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 |
File Name: D3X1555-ClapperRail |
© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus) |
Description: Foraging at the edges of the mud flats at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County USA 2013-03-15. |
Date Taken: 2013:03:15 8:03 |
Location:
Bayfront Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X1625-ClapperRail |
© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |


Ridgway's Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus) |
Description: Yuma subspecies foraging along the marsh edges at Poe Road. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2011-10-12. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:12 7:24 |
Location:
Poe Road |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: D3X2880-ClapperRail |
© 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus levipes) |
Description: Light-footed subspecies "kek-keking" to defend its territory at the Tijuana River Estuary. Imperial Beach, San Diego County, California USA 2010-02-11. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:11 13:18 |
Location:
Oneota Slough |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD6062.ClapperRail |
© 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus levipes) |
Description: Light-footed subspecies. Tijuana River Estuary. Imperial Beach, San Diego County, California USA 2010-02-11. |
Date Taken: 2010:02:11 13:22 |
Location:
Oneota Slough |
Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD6093.ClapperRail |
© 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus levipes) |
Description: Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County USA 2014-03-05. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:05 9:03 |
Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/640 |
File Name: Cut_D3X3277-ClapperRail |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus yumanensis) |
Description: Yuma subspecies foraging the marsh edges at the Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2003-09-26. |
Date Taken: 2003:09:26 9:43 |
Location:
Salton Sea |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/320 |
File Name: JCD_2721YumaClapperRail |
© 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus yumanensis) |
Description: Yuma subspecies foraging the marsh edges at the Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2003-09-26. |
Date Taken: 2003:09:26 9:43 |
Location:
Salton Sea |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 |
File Name: JCD_2729YumaClapperRail |
© 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus yumanensis) |
Description: Yuma subspecies foraging the marsh edges at the Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2003-09-26. |
Date Taken: 2003:09:26 9:44 |
Location:
Salton Sea |
Camera Information: NIKON D1X, 400 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 |
File Name: JCD_2736YumaClapperRail |
© 2003 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus) |
Description: Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:05 9:06 |
Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: D3X3305-ClapperRail |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus) |
Description: Tijuana River Mouth in Imperial Beach, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:03:05 9:02 |
Location:
Tijuana River Mouth |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/320 |
File Name: D3X3265-ClapperRail |
© 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |


Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus) |
Description: Crowing at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:03:15 7:54 |
Location:
Bayfront Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 |
File Name: D3X1565-ClapperRail |
© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |


Ridgway’s Rail (Clapper Rail)(Rallus obsoletus) |
Description: Skulking at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2013:03:15 7:43 |
Location:
Bayfront Park |
Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/200 |
File Name: D3X1531-ClapperRail |
© 2013 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |

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