Sora
(Porzana carolina)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy
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Description |
Sora is the most common rail in North America. It is found throughout Canada in every province except Nunavut, and throughout the United States except in every state including Alaska and Hawaii. However, it is seldom seen because it rarely leaves dense vegetation except in the early morning or late evening. |
Size |
8″ to 10″ in length 14″ wingspan |
Voice |
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Similar Species |
Habitat |
Mostly in marshes with catail, bullrush, bluejoint, or sedge; sometimes also in bogs, fens, wet meadows, and flooded fields. |
Ecology |
Migration |
Mid-April to mid-May and mid-August to mid-October |
Nesting |
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Food |
Seeds, especially sedge and bulrush; duckweed and other plants; aquatic insects and molusks |
Distribution |
Occurrence |
Common migrant and breeder |
Maps |
The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
Taxonomy |
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Order |
Aves (birds) |
Order |
Gruiformes (cranes, rails, and allies) |
Family |
Rallidae (rails, crakes, gallinules, and coots) |
Genus |
Porzana (spotted crakes and allies) |
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Rallus carolinus |
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Visitor Photos |
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Luciearl |
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Here's a new one for me. My daughter while raking, had an unknown bird come out from the leaves. I looked it up and when I listened to its call, realized I had heard this bird at night for many years, not knowing what it was. I had never seen it before. It is a continuous screeching sound. There is a small wetland in the woods that is protected from nearby roads and humans in a wooded area. Sounds like a perfect habitat for a Sora. |
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Lynn Rubey |
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Sora... in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in the evening of May 13, 2019. |
Earl Bye |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Slideshows |
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Visitor Videos |
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Dan W. Andree |
"Juvenile Sora" |
About
Published on Mar 9, 2016 I noticed this young Sora while out along a pond I usually look for a pair of Trumpeter Swans. Often hidden in the dense cattails though occasionally ventured out near open edges of the pond. A pair of swans were out on the pond and you can hear their sounds as well as some geese sounds in the video. The Sora was silent and just looking for food. |
Other Videos |
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Sora |
About
Published on May 29, 2011 Sora rails in a Maine marsh. © 2011 Garth McElroy License at http://www.paya.com/videos/135192 |
Sora rail calling |
About
Published on Sep 30, 2015 Recorded at Estero Llano Grande State Park Weslaco, Texas on 2015-09-21. Porzana carolina, If you want to watch similar bird and other wildlife videos go to my YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/tavovalero/videos |
104 - Studying the Sora Rail |
About
Published on Oct 18, 2008 Have you heard the expression "skinny as a rail?" Learn where it originated and much more about this unusual bird, the Sora Rail. |
Marsh Birds: Sora |
About
Published on Jul 20, 2012 Sora: This odd sounding bird was spotted in marshlands in Eastern Washington. It squeaks like a mouse and swims like a duck but has no webbed feet and has a beak instead of a bill. It's tail sticks straight up! The video sound picks up the calls from both the male and female although the female stayed well hidden. They migrate to South America in the winter. |
Sora Rail |
About
Published on Jan 17, 2015 Sora rail at Green Cay Wetlands, Palm Beach County, Florida |
Visitor Sightings |
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Luciearl |
Location: Lake Shore, MN Here's a new one for me. My daughter while raking, had an unknown bird come out from the leaves. I looked it up and when I listened to its call, realized I had heard this bird at night for many years, not knowing what it was. I had never seen it before. It is a continuous screeching sound. There is a small wetland in the woods that is protected from nearby roads and humans in a wooded area. Sounds like a perfect habitat for a Sora. |
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Cory Carlson |
Location: Grays Bay Dam Walkway, Minnetonka |
| Lynn Rubey 5/13/2019 |
Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge Sora... in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in the evening of May 13, 2019. |
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| Earl Bye 7/10/2017 |
Location: Maplewood Nature Center, Maplewood, MN |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Created: 7/21/2017 Last Updated: © MinnesotaSeasons.com. All rights reserved. |