Rallus crepitans crepitans
Status: Accidental in winter.
Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM14120, 30 Jan 1951 near Stapleton, Logan Co (Rapp and Rapp 1951).
Taxonomy: Recently (Chesser et al 2014) the 15 or so subspecies previously included in Clapper Rail R. longirostris (AOU 1957) were split into two groups, seven in South America, under Mangrove Rail R. longirostris, and eight in North America, the Caribbean, and Yucatan Peninsula, under Clapper Rail R. crepitans.
The single Nebraska specimen was assigned to the migratory Atlantic Coast subspecies crepitans.
Record: The only record was of one caught in a mink trap about 12 miles east of Stapleton in Logan Co. The identification was confirmed by J. Van Tyne, who determined it to be a “typical Northern Clapper Rail,” the Atlantic coast subspecies crepitans (Rapp and Rapp 1951). The specimen has grey cheeks which do not contrast with the greyish neck coloration.
Images
Abbreviations
UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum
Acknowledgement
Photograph (top) by Joel G. Jorgensen of a Clapper Rail specimen (UNSM ZM14120) collected near Stapleton, Logan Co 30 Jan 1951. The specimen is housed and maintained at the University of Nebraska State Museum and was legally salvaged or collected. We thank Thomas Labedz for facilitating the photographing of this specimen for the Birds of Nebraska – Online.
Literature Cited
American Ornithologists’ Union [AOU]. 1957. The AOU Check-list of North American birds, 5th ed. Port City Press, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Chesser, R.T., K.J. Burns, C. Cicero, J.L. Dunn, A.W. Kratter, I.J. Lovette, P.C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., J.D. Rising, D.F. Stotz, and K. Winker. 2017. Fifty-eighth supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds. Auk 134: 751-773.
Rapp, W.F. Jr., and J.L.C. Rapp. 1951. The Clapper Rail in Nebraska. NBR 19: 38-39.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2021. Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans crepitans). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Updated 14 Mar 2021