Date: 2/11/26 6:09 am From: Alan Meijer (via carolinabirds Mailing List) <carolinabirds...> Subject: Re: Clapper Rail (or Virginia?) in Hyde Co, NC
Thank you very much for the info and the photo compliment. I was glad to
get it, that's for sure. My attempts at various waterfowl in the previous
minutes didn't go so well! ;)
On Mon, Feb 9, 2026 at 3:27 PM Robert McLean <tmclean1090...> wrote:
> Alan,
>
> That’s a Clapper in my book. Check the cheeks/face. In a Virginia Rail the
> cheeks/face greatly contrasts the reddish hues on the breast. Whereas on a
> Clapper there is no such contrast; the cheeks/face blend in with the rest
> of the body.
> That bird is also way bigger than a meadowlark. As for chicken size, think
> small chicken or hen.
>
> Great photo of a Clapper Rail.
>
> Taylor McLean
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Feb 9, 2026, at 2:33 PM, Alan Meijer <alan.meijer...> wrote:
>
>
> I'd say this bird is not as big as a chicken.
>
> <Clapper or Virginia Rail -1.jpg>
>
> <Clapper or Virginia Rail -2.jpg>
>
> Alan
>
>
>
>
>
> <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> > Virus-free.http://www.avg.com/ > <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> > <#m_-5484198153850388920_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
>
> On Mon, Feb 9, 2026 at 11:20 AM Robert McLean <tmclean1090...>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Alan,
>>
>> A Virginia Rail is about the same size as a meadowlark, whereas a Clapper
>> is about the size of a chicken.
>> Send photos, if you would like to.
>>
>> Taylor McLean
>> Baltimore, MD
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>> On Feb 9, 2026, at 10:10 AM, Alan Meijer <carolinabirds...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> Drove down to the Bell Island Pier near Swan Quarter in Hyde County. I
>> walked out on the newly-revamped pier to inspect the new line of rip-rap
>> laid down in the recent renovation. A bird flew out from under the pier,
>> landed a short distance away and disappeared under an overhang along the
>> bank. Intrigued, I got my binoculars out, and started looking. I saw some
>> movement among the rocks and there was a bird I've never seen before. I
>> thought it was a juvenile Virginia rail but its bill had a lot of color to
>> it. When submitting the photo to eBird, the software suggested I had a
>> CLAPPER RAIL. I took some photos and then walked along the bank to take
>> some scenic shots when suddenly, it appeared about four feet away,quietly
>> walking along the rip-rap. I stopped and it disappeared into the grasses.
>>
>> If someone wants to help me verify, I'll send you a photo.
>>
>> Alan Meijer
>> Beaufort Co., NC
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> >> Virus-free.http://www.avg.com/ >> <http://www.avg.com/email-signature?utm_medium=email&utm_source=link&utm_campaign=sig-email&utm_content=webmail> >> <#m_-5484198153850388920_m_-8752683747465298642_DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2>
>>
>>
