Editing Clapper rail (section)

{{short description|New world bird of salt marshes, recently split into different species}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Rallus crepitans.jpg
| status = LC
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=BirdLife International |date=2018 |title=''Rallus crepitans'' |volume=2018 |page=e.T62155296A132306811 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T62155296A132306811.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Rallus
| species = crepitans
| authority = [[Johann Friedrich Gmelin|JF Gmelin]], 1789
| range_map = Rallus crepitans map.svg
| range_map_caption = {{leftlegend|#7137C8|Year-round}}{{leftlegend|#ff6600|Breeding}}
}}

The '''clapper rail''' ('''''Rallus crepitans''''') is a member of the rail family, [[Rallidae]]. The taxonomy for this species is confusing and still being determined.  It is a large brown rail that is resident in wetlands along the Atlantic coasts of the eastern United States, eastern Mexico and some Caribbean islands. This species was formerly considered to be [[conspecific]] with the [[mangrove rail]].
[[File:Clapper Rail.jpg|thumb|right|South Padre Island Birding and Nature Center - Texas]]