Yuma Clapper rail (Rallus longirostris yumanensis)
Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Listing Status:
General Information
A marsh bird the size of a chicken, the YCR is gray-brown above and buffy-cinnamon below and has brownish-gray cheeks and flanks barred with black and white. Its somewhat orange bill is long and slightly down-curved.
For the best experience, make sure that javascript is enabled and that you have the Adobe Flash Player installed Click here to download and install the Flash Player
Click here to see static map image
This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)
- States/US Territories in which the Yuma Clapper rail, U.S.A. only is known to or is believed to occur: Arizona , California , Nevada
- US Counties in which the Yuma Clapper rail, U.S.A. only is known to or is believed to occur: View All
- USFWS Refuges in which the Yuma Clapper rail, U.S.A. only is known to occur:
BILL WILLIAMS RIVER NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, CIBOLA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, HAVASU NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, IMPERIAL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, SONNY BONO SALTON SEA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
- For more information: http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Yuma_Rail.htm
| Status | Date Listed | Lead Region | Where Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03/11/1967 | Southwest Region (Region 2) | U.S.A. only |
» Federal Register Documents
|
» Recovery
Recovery Plan Information Search| Date | Title | Plan Action Status | Plan Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02/10/2010 | Draft Revised Recovery Plan for the Yuma Clapper Rail | View Implementation Progress | Draft Revision 1 |
| Date | Citation Page | Title | Document Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02/10/2010 | 75 FR 6697 6698 | Draft Yuma Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris yumanensis) Recovery Plan, First Revision | |
| 02/02/2005 | 70 FR 5460 5463 | 5-Year Review of Lesser Long-nosed Bat, Black-capped Vireo, Yuma Clapper Rail, Pima Pineapple Cactus, Gypsum Wild-Buckwheat, Mesa Verde Cactus, and Zuni Fleabane |
| Date | Title |
|---|---|
| 09/12/2006 | Yuma Clapper Rail 5-Year Review |
» Critical Habitat
No critical habitat rules have been published for the Yuma Clapper rail, U.S.A. only.
» Conservation Plans
| HCP Plan Summaries |
|---|
| Coachella Valley Multi-Species HCP |
| Lower Colorado River MSCP |
| Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Plan (LCR MSCP) |
| Salt River Project Roosevelt Lake Habitat Conservation Plan |
| SHA Plan Summaries |
|---|
| Tempe, City of, Rio Salado SHA |
» Petitions
No petition findings have been published for the Yuma Clapper rail, U.S.A. only.
» Life History
Habitat Requirements
Fresh-water marshes dominated by cattail or bulrush. Early successional marshes with little residual vegetation may be preferred. Habitat should be in a mosaic of vegetated areas interspersed with shallow (less than 12") open water areas. Minimum size of suitable habitats is unclear, but have been found in areas as small as 2-3 acres depending on the quality of the mosaic.
Food Habits
Primarily crayfish, with small fish, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates also taken.
Movement / Home Range
Most individuals do not migrate, but have minor seasonal changes in their activity areas. Juveniles do disperse to nearby habitats. The recent extension of the range north along the lower Colorado River implies that rails are capable of longer distance movements, although the presence of scattered habitat patches for resting is likely important. Seasonal availablity of food may be important factor in the need to migrate greater distances.
Reproductive Strategy
Rails establish pair bonds and territories in March-May, with nesting in May through June. One clutch is born per year. Juveniles are ready to breed the spring following their birth.
Other
Important threats: loss of marsh habitat through dredging/filling activities, decline in quality of marsh habitat due to build-up residual vegetation (dead stems and leaves of cattails or bulrush) that clogs movement through the vegetation, and selenium contamination of the prey base.
» Other Resources
NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.
ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.
