Order: Gruiformes, Family: Rallidae, Genus: Rallus

Total length: 23-31 cm

Wingspan: 38-45 cm

Weight: 100-200 g

Slightly smaller than a pigeon.

The rail family is widely distributed across Western Europe, North Africa, Central Asia, East Asia, and Japan.

In temperate regions, they are resident birds that stay in the area all year round, but there are also migratory species that move south in winter. The species found in Japan are migratory, moving to warmer regions such as southern Japan during winter.

Rails prefer habitats near water. Particularly, they inhabit wetlands, lakes, bamboo thickets near water bodies, and rice fields, favoring areas covered with tall vegetation for protection.

They prefer such places to hide from predators and can even dive into water.

Due to their secretive nature and dull feather colors, which do not stand out, rails can be difficult to spot. Many people who have not seen them may simply have overlooked their presence.

Another characteristic is that males and females are the same color.

Their body shape is plump and rounded overall.

However, they are characterized by long beaks and thick legs. The color of the beak changes with the seasons; in winter, only the lower beak turns red, while during the breeding season in early summer, it turns red overall.

Rails are not adept flyers, so when threatened, they prefer to run and hide in the underbrush.

Their thick, well-developed legs suggest that they have evolved to run rather than fly.

The breeding season for rails is around June, and they lay about 6-10 eggs. The incubation period is said to be around 20 days, with both males and females taking turns warming the eggs.

As part of their courtship behavior, males touch the females' chests, spread their wings and tail feathers to appeal, and sometimes even present food.

In response, the female vocalizes and wanders around the male, rubbing her beak and preening her feathers.

Chicks hatch and leave the nest within 2-3 days, and they can fly about 20-30 days after hatching. In Japan, breeding was originally observed in the northern regions like Hokkaido and Tohoku, but in recent years, breeding has also been confirmed in the Kanto region.