Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

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.

Lead Region:  Southwest Region (Region 2)
Date Listed: Mar 11, 1967
Where Listed: U.S.A. only

  • States/US Territories in which the Yuma Clapper rail, U.S.A. only is known to occur:  Arizona , California , Nevada , Utah
  • 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

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 5 )
Date Citation Page Title
09/27/2007 72 FR 54922 54923 Virgin River Habitat Conservation and Recovery Program, Clark County, NV, Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) and notice of public meetings
07/27/2007 72 FR 54922 54923 Virgin River Habitat Conservation and Recovery Program, Clark County, NV
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
11/29/2002 67 FR 71193 71194 Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement adn Final, Roosevelt Habitat Conservation Plan for Incidental Take by the Salt River Project.
03/11/1967 32 FR 4001 Endangered Species List - 1967

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
02/04/1983 Yuma Clapper Rail Recovery Plan View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
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
  • Notice 5-year Review
  • Five Year Review
    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

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 4 of 4 )
    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
    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA): (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
    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.

    Last updated: November 21, 2009