the 57,5-70 cm big Rallenkranich is a bandage-limb between the actual cranes and the Rallen so to speak, why one calls it also "Riesenralle" and puts into an independent family of the crane-birds. its spread-area extends from Florida and South-Georgia (USA) over Mexico and the Antilles to Argentina.
Way of life Rallenkraniche live individually or in only small troops in marshland-ships and little Mars, where it after freshwater-snails, mussels and (to the low part) after other small invertebrates seeks. In easily "limping", Riesenrallen stride measured walk, different than the actual Rallen, also in the cover-hands terrains little around and likes to visit silence and roosts in the branches of higher trees.
Brood Also its nests set the Rallenkraniche on hedge and in trees (up to 5 m of height) on occasion; usually however, the birds build a platform in the Bodenbewuchs. The nest consists of 4-8 eggs and becomes erbrütet from both alto-birds. The slipping boys carry already a dark brown Dunenkleid and run around soon after abandonment of the Eischale, distinct Nestflüchter therefore are. Both parents look after its offspring together and stay together until the next brood-period with the boys.
Shape, flight Rallenkraniche have a 10 cm long, brown beak and also brown plumage, with clearly put white strips; the neck is lighter than the remaining plumage. Both sexes resemble from. When flying, the span amounts to approximately 1 m, the birds neck and legs stretch exactly from the body away, the flight is rowing and remarkably slowly even. Particularly against evening and "Riesenrallen" let its "plaintive" sounding reputations at night heard.
Nature conservation In North America, where it was spread already in the Miozän, as fossil-findings prove, the Rallenkranich was pursued long time, there its meat very well tastes good. Since the continuance of these interesting birds decreased dangerous, laws protect the left Rallenkraniche in the shrinking natural wetlands of the southern USA today.
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