One of the most elusive birds in an elusive family, the tiny Black Rail is infamously difficult to see. Its dark colors, broken up by white speckles, help it blend with the deep shadows of dense marshes, where it preys on small invertebrates. It’s easier to hear, particularly on spring nights when males sing a repeated, amiable kick-ee-kerr. Black Rails are vulnerable to sea-level rise and other changes to its marsh habitat, and are listed on the Partners in Flight Red Watch List because of recent steep declines.