Population status

King Rail
(Rallus elegans)

A rare and secretive marshbird that is detected too infrequently by most surveys to accurately derive trend estimates, the King Rail is best monitored by species-specific searches. However, very little long-term information exists for this species. The North American population was estimated to be about 70,000 birds in 2008, the vast majority of which were concentrated in the southeastern United States (COSEWIC 2011g). Both Breeding Bird Survey and Christmas Bird Count data support a large, continent-wide decline, but these reflect the larger population in the United States; neither survey provides trends specific to the Canadian breeding population. The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario includes some records of King Rail, but its poor detectability likely results in underestimated abundance (Woodliffe 2007a). Observations from the Great Lakes Marsh Monitoring Program have been too sparse for changes over time to be quantified. Incidental records and isolated observations in marshes throughout southern Ontario suggest a decrease since the 1970s, from no more than 300 pairs (an estimate which has since been described as being inflated) to possibly fewer than 50 pairs by the late 1990s (James 2000). Experts suspect that the population has changed little since the first COSEWIC report was published in 2000, but overall there is still much uncertainty (Environment Canada 2012a). While recent targeted surveys have detected several individuals throughout southern Ontario, there is insufficient information available to assess this species' national population status relative to the 1970s; this species is therefore considered to be data deficient. A quantitative population goal has not yet been developed for this species, but it is considered to be below acceptable levels in Canada.

 

Population goal and acceptable levels of variation

Species/groupGoalLower levelUpper level
King RailLong-term recovery goal (SARA)Equal to goalNot applicable

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Table 1: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic areaTime Period Table 1 - footnote 1 Annual trend Table 1 - footnote 2 Limits
LowerUpper
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2016-5.2-7.6-2.8
 

Picture of logo Christmas Bird Count (CBC)

Additional information on: Christmas Bird Count (CBC)

Table 2: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic areaTime PeriodAnnual Trend Table 2 - footnote 1 Limits
LowerUpper
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 1970-2016; Christmas Bird Count (CBC)1970-2016-2.1-3.3-1.04
 

Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario

Additional information on: Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario

Table 3: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic areaTime PeriodAnnual trend (%) Table 3 - footnote 1 Limits
LowerUpper
Ontario1981/85 - 2001/05-1.6-7.64.9
 

References