BIRDS OF OREGON 



Yellow Rail: 



Coturnicops noveboracensis (Gmelin) 



DESCRIPTION. "Upper parts dark buff, mottled with brown and black, feathers of 

 back narrowly tipped with white in wavy cross-lines; wing dusky, with large white 

 patch on secondaries; throat and breast plain buff or brownish; middle of belly 

 whitish. Length: 6.00-7.75, w i n g 3.00-3.60, bill .50-. 60, tarsus .80-1.00." 

 (Bailey) Nest: A mass of dry grass, usually skillfully concealed. Egg s: 8 to 10, 

 pale buff, finely speckled with brown and cinnamon. 



DISTRIBUTION. General: Found during breeding season over States and Provinces 

 bordering international line east of Rockies but actually found breeding only in 

 North Dakota and California. Winters in southern United States. In Oregon: 

 Known only from a single specimen from Scio, Linn County. 



THIS RARE and elusive bird, the Yellow Rail, is included in the Oregon 

 list on the basis of only a single female taken by Prill near Scio, on 

 February i, 1900. This bird has been examined by Jewett and is correctly 

 identified. It constitutes the sole record for the State. 



Farallon Rail: 



Creciscus jamaicensis coturniculus (Ridgway) 



DESCRIPTION.- "Adults: Upper parts blackish, finely speckled and barred with white, 

 patch on nape chestnut brown, color extending to top of head, forehead slaty; under 

 parts rich plumbeous, lower belly, flanks, and under tail coverts barred with white. 

 Young: white restricted. Wing z.6x, tarsus .79, culmen ,.54 depth of bill at base of 

 nostril .18." (Bailey) Nest: A flimsy structure of fine, dry weed stems. Eggs: 4 to 

 8, with a creamy white to pure white ground color, "sparingly marked, chiefly at 

 the larger end, with minute dots of browns and drabs." (Bent) 

 DISTRIBUTION. General: Coast marshes of California and Lower California. Casual 

 in Washington. In Oregon: Casual, only records at Malheur Lake. 



THE ADMISSION of the Farallon Rail to the Oregon list rests solely on 

 Bendire's records. He stated: "A single specimen of the black rail was 

 noticed April i6th near Lake Malheur" (1875), and "Seen on two occa- 

 sions in the swamps near Malheur Lake, where it unquestionably breeds" 

 (1877). ^ has not been seen or taken in the State since. 



American Coot: 



Fulica americana americana Gmelin 



DESCRIPTION. "Toes lobed or scalloped along edges; bill stout, nearly as long as 

 head; frontal shield narrow, ending in a point on crown. Breeding plumage: bill 

 white, with brown spot near end, frontal shield brown; whole head and neck 

 blackish; rest of body plumbeous except for white under tail coverts, edge of wing, 

 and tips of middle wing feathers. Winter plumage: belly whitish; frontal shield 

 smaller than in summer. Young: like winter adults, but with white of belly extend- 

 ing onto throat; bill dull flesh color, frontal shield rudimentary." (Bailey) Downy 

 young: "The downy young coot is a grotesque but showy little chick; a black ball of 

 down with a fiery head. The almost bald crown is but thinly covered with hairlike 



