The Rallidae are a large family of small- to medium-sized birds with short rounded wings, short tail, large feet, and long toes. They occur on every continent except Antarctica. Many species are associated with wetlands, although others are found in forests and other terrestrial habitats. The family contains 34 genera and 150 living and recently extinct species. Species nesting in temperate areas are often migratory; some island rallids are flightless. Many of the latter are endangered; some flightless species have become extinct in historic times, mainly due to predation by introduced species and hunting. The most dramatic human-caused extinctions occurred on the Pacific islands. The majority of rallids are monogamous, although polygyny and polyandry also occurs. Nests are built in dense emergent vegetation, on the ground, and in low bushes or stumps. Clutches consist of 1-15 eggs (usually) 8-10 eggs. Chicks are precocial or semi-precocial. The majority of species are omnivorous generalists, although some, including coots, are primarily herbivorous.

		Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola)
		Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)
		Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica)
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