Clapper Rail

This secretive marsh bird inhabits coastal salt marshes and mangroves along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the Americas, more often heard than seen as it gives a sharp, clattering call from deep within dense cordgrass. Its mottled brown-gray plumage provides excellent camouflage among marsh vegetation, and it forages by probing mud for crabs and other invertebrates. Early morning around high tide, when birds are pushed toward marsh edges and more likely to cross open channels, offers the best viewing chances.