Order: Cranes & Rails

Guam Rail walking on the ground

The Guam Rail is a small, ground-dwelling bird, inhabiting forests, mixed woodland and scrub, fern thickets, and grasslands. They move quickly through thickets and grasses. It is most active at dawn and dusk. In the late 1980s, the presence of an invasive species, the brown tree-snake threatened the survival of bird species on the island…

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Gray crowned crane

Native to East Africa, the Gray Crowned-Crane is featured on Uganda’s coat of arms and flag and is the country’s national bird; this bird also is a sacred symbol for Kenya, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa. The Gray Crowned-Crane is unique among the cranes in being one of only two species capable of perching in…

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A Black Crake walking on the ground

The Black Crake is a water bird found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. With its bright yellow bill, red legs, and sleek black body, this bird is among the most common and least secretive of Africa’s rail species. They are well-suited for life in a wetland habitat: their long toes help them move easily along floating vegetation,…

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In The News

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Musical Parking Chairs featuring the National Aviary’s Own Cathy Schlott! | The YaJagoff Podcast

Musical Parking Chairs? Yep! And a skunk and Blue Zone Food! Now THAT’s a show description!

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For $5, you can help name National Aviary’s skunk sisters. How to vote | USA Today

Pittsburgh's two new skunk sisters are one step closer to getting their names, thanks to the internet.

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National Aviary close to naming sister skunks. See the finalist names. | USA Today Pets

Two skunk sisters at Pittsburgh's National Aviary are close to getting names after more than 18,000 public suggestions.

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National Aviary selects sets of names for skunk sister public vote | WPXI

The aviary’s animal care team has selected six names (three pairs) for the public to vote on in round two of the competition.

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Striped skunk sisters make their debut at National Aviary | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

When you think of animal ambassadors, giant pandas and bald eagles come to mind, but a skunk? The latest animal ambassador at the National Aviary is a sister pair of 4-month-old striped skunks from the Cincinnati Zoo.

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