Ecological notes on mixed populations of king rails and clapper rails in Delaware Bay marshes

The closely related King Rail (Rallus elegans) and Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris) are characteristic of distinct types of habitat in the coastal plain along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Ordinarily, King Rails are found in both fresh and brackish tidal marshes, and Clapper Rails in tidal salt marshes. In a few areas, however, intermediate brackish-salt marshes occur where King and Clapper rails may be found together.