What is Rallidae?
{{Taxobox | name = Rallidae | fossil_range = Early [[Eocene]] {{ndash}} Recent | image = Dusky moorhen442.jpg | image_width = 240px | image_caption = [[Dusky moorhen]], ''Gallinula tenebrosa'' | regnum = [[Animal]]ia | phylum = [[Chordata]] | classis = [[Aves]] | subclassis = [[Neornithes]] | infraclassis = [[Neognathae]] | superordo = [[Neoaves]] | ordo = [[Gruiformes]] | familia = '''Rallidae''' | familia_authority = [[Nicholas Aylward Vigors|Vigors]], 1825 }} [[File:Red-Legged Crake.jpg|thumb|right|[[Red-legged crake]], ''Rallina fasciata'']] [[File:Rallus aquaticus 1 (Marek Szczepanek).jpg|thumb|right|[[Water rail]], ''Rallus aquaticus'']] [[File:Porzana porzana 5 (Marek Szczepanek).jpg|thumb|right|Immature [[Spotted crake]] (''Porzana porzana'')]] The '''rails''', or '''Rallidae''', are a large [[Family (biology)|family]] of small to medium-sized [[bird]]s. The rails are related to [[Crane (bird)|cranes]], and both are in the [[Order (biology)|order]] [[Gruiformes]]. The family is [[Biodiversity|diverse]], and includes the [[crake]]s, [[coot]]s, and [[gallinule]]s. Many species are associated with [[wetland]]s, although the family is found in every [[terrestrial]] [[habitat]] except dry [[desert]]s, polar regions and alpine areas above the snow line. The Rallidae are found on every continent except [[Antarctica]]. There are numerous island species. The most common habitats are [[marsh]]land or dense [[forest]]. They like dense vegetation.<Hor/> There are many rails on islands, and they are often [[Flightless birds|flightless]]. ==Flight and flightlessness== The wings of all rails are short and rounded. Their [[bird flight|flight]] is not powerful, but can continue for long periods, and many species [[migration|migrate]] annually. The weakness of their flight means they are easily blown off course, so they are common [[Vagrancy (biology)|vagrants]]. This has led them to colonize many isolated oceanic islands. Furthermore, these birds often prefer to run rather than fly, especially in dense [[shrub]] or [[