The family Rallidae, belonging to the order Gruiformes, includes birds commonly known as rails, coots, and gallinules. These birds are generally small to medium-sized and are adapted to life in dense wetlands, marshes, and reed beds, where they often remain hidden. They typically have strong legs, long toes for walking on soft, uneven surfaces, and short, rounded wings, making them more adapted for running and swimming than for sustained flight. Rallids are omnivorous, feeding on a mix of plant material, invertebrates, and small aquatic animals. Many species are elusive and secretive, and some island species have become flightless. They are found worldwide, with particularly high diversity in tropical and temperate wetlands.