The smallest of North America's rail species at six inches in length; the black rail is stocky, short-billed, short-tailed, and round-winged. It is mostly dark gray or black on the head, bill, and chest with white-speckled dark wings, back and lower abdomen. The throat of the female is pale gray or white, while the throat of the male is pale to medium gray. The nape and upper back is chestnut-brown and the eyes are scarlet red. Immature black rails are similar in appearance to the adults but with less distinct spotting and streaking on the body. Another feature in juvenile black rails are the eyes which are amber to hazel until they turn red at three months old.