Sora
(Porzana carolina)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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| NatureServe | N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding SNRB - Unranked Breeding |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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This is the most common rail in North America. It is found throughout Canada except Nunavut and throughout the United States except for eight southeastern states. However, it is seldom seen because it rarely leaves dense vegetation except in the early morning or late evening. |
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Size |
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8″ to 10″ in length 14″ wingspan |
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Voice |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Mostly in marshes with catail, bullrush, bluejoint, or sedge; sometimes also in bogs, fens, wet meadows, and flooded fields. |
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Biology |
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Migration |
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Mid-April to mid-May and mid-August to mid-October |
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Nesting |
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Food |
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Seeds, especially sedge and bulrush; duckweed and other plants; aquatic insects and molusks |
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Distribution |
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Occurrence |
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Common migrant and breeder |
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Maps |
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The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map |
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Taxonomy |
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| Class | Aves (birds) | ||
Order |
Aves (birds) | ||
Family |
Gruiformes (cranes, rails, and allies) | ||
Subfamily |
Rallidae (rails, gallinules, and coots) | ||
Genus |
Porzana (porzana crakes) | ||
Synonyms |
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| Visitor Photos | |||
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| Lynn Rubey | |||
Sora... in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge in the evening of May 13, 2019. |
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| Earl Bye | |||
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| MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos | |||
Slideshows |
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| Visitor Videos | |||
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| Dan W. Andree | |||
| "Juvenile Sora" Published on Mar 9, 2016 |
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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. |
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| Other Videos | |||
| Sora WIld Bird Videos by McElroy Productions |
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About
Published on May 29, 2011 Sora rails in a Maine marsh. © 2011 Garth McElroy License at http://www.paya.com/videos/135192 |
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| Sora rail calling tavovalero |
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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 |
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| 104 - Studying the Sora Rail EstuaryLiveTV |
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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. |
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| Marsh Birds: Sora Paul Dana |
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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. |
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| Sora Rail Dan Read |
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About
Published on Jan 17, 2015 Sora rail at Green Cay Wetlands, Palm Beach County, Florida |
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| Visitor Sightings | ||||
Report a sighting of this bird. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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| 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: