King Rail

Rallus elegans

The king rail is very rare in Canada. Its breeding range includes large, isolated marshes found in extreme southern Ontario. The loss and degradation of habitat are major limiting factors. Throughout the 20th century, many wetlands have been drained for agricultural purposes and have become uninhabitable. Fluctuating water levels destroy nests and food and continuously cause population declines. The species cannot breed in areas where sudden extremes of dampness or dryness occur.