Order Gruiformes reported in Maine
 (Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Aves)

a project of
Maine Natural History Observatory
reproduced here with the permission of the Observatory

(updated 20 February 2025)



You are invited to send to info@vfthomas.com additions/corrections to the list of birds in Order Gruiformes as well as information for the tabular keys on this page that will help distinguish one taxon from another.


In Maine, 10 species in 8 genera in 2 families have been reported. Click on a link below or scroll down for more information.

Family Rallidae (7 genera, 9 species)
   Rallus (3 species)
      Rallus elegans - King Rail
      Rallus crepitans - Clapper Rail
      Rallus limicola - Virginia Rail
   Crex (1 species)
      Crex crex - Corn Crake
   Porzana (1 species)
      Porzana carolina - Sora
   Gallinula (1 species)
      Gallinula galeata - Common Gallinule
   Fulica (1 species)
      Fulica americana - American Coot
   Porphyrio (1 species)
      Porphyrio martinica - Purple Gallinule
   Coturnicops (1 species)
      Coturnicops noveboracensis - Yellow Rail
Family Gruidae (1 genus, 1 species)
   Antigone (1 species)
      Antigone canadensis - Sandhill Crane



Key to the families of Order Gruiformes reported in Maine (to be completed)
char. 1 char. 2 char. 3 char. 4 char. 5
Rallidae
Gruidae


Family Rallidae

Key to the genera of Family Rallidae reported in Maine
char. 1 char. 2 char. 3 char. 4 char. 5
Rallus
Crex
Porzana
Gallinula
Fulica
Porphyrio
Coturnicops

Rallus (Rail)
[information to be added]

Key to the species of Rallus reported in Maine
char. 1 char. 2 char. 3 char. 4 char. 5
R. elegans
R. crepitans
R. limicola

Rallus elegans (King Rail) - This species is rare in Maine.

Rallus crepitans (Clapper Rail) - This species is rare in Maine.

Rallus limicola (Virginia Rail) - [information to be added]


Crex (common name?)
[information to be added]

Crex crex (Corn Crake) - This species is rare in Maine.


Porzana (common name?)
[information to be added]

Porzana carolina (Sora) - [information to be added]


Gallinula (Gallinule)
[information to be added]

Gallinula galeata (Common Gallinule) - [information to be added]


Fulica (Coot)
[information to be added]

Fulica americana (American Coot) - [information to be added]


Porphyrio (Gallinule)
[information to be added]

Porphyrio martinica (Purple Gallinule) - [information to be added]


Coturnicops (Rail)
[information to be added]

Coturnicops noveboracensis (Yellow Rail) - This species is rare in Maine.


Family Gruidae

Antigone (Crane)
[information to be added]

Antigone canadensis (Sandhill Crane) - [information to be added]