wetland dominated by pickleweed and cordgrass, or brackish emergent wetland with those two plants plus bulrush. It is not clear whether it requires any source of fresh water. Although not migratory in coastal wetlands, this species disperses juveniles into freshwater wetlands in late August through October. Ridgway's rail has been observed to forage in or near relatively disturbed areas, leading one to deduce the importance of protecting even numeral marsh areas; for example this species was seen foraging in a small mudflat area within Seal Slough in San Mateo, three miles from the nearest known breeding area in Belmont. Feeding and ecology The omnivorous Ridgway's rail eats many things, including clams, crabs, mussels, and occasionally small rodents and birds. Breeding By mid-February, nest building has begun. Ridgway's rail then breeds (California rail subspecies) in the San Francisco Bay from mid-March through August, with peak activity in late June. During this breeding season the bird density was approximately 0.1 to 0.6 individuals per acre; outside of breeding season densities decline to 0.04 to 0.40 individuals per acre. The twig nest is placed low, sometimes among plant roots, and purple-spotted buff eggs are laid. Eggs are produced in clutches of four to fourteen, with an average yield of 7.6. The incubation period is 18 to 29 days, and the hatching success is 38%, notably less than the similar light-footed rail indigenous to southern California. Incubation is shared between both the male and female Ridgway's rail. Subspecies R. o. obsoletus, formerly California clapper rail, nominate subspecies R. o. levipes, light-footed rail, a U.S. federal and California state listed endangered subspecies that ranges from Santa Barbara County to the extreme north of the Mexican coast of the Pacific Ocean. R. o. yumanensis, Yuma rail, southeastern California and southern Arizona, to northwestern Mexico R. o. beldingi, Belding's rail, southern Baja California References External links Birds described in 1874 Endemic fauna of California Fauna of the San Francisco Bay Area Native birds of the West Coast of the United States Natural history of San Mateo County, California Near threatened animals Rigway's rail San Francisco Bay Taxa named by Robert Ridgway