Species

Sora

Porzana carolina

A plump little rail with a short yellow bill and a whinnying call, common in Georgia's marshes in winter.

Photo Unknown photographer (opens in a new tab) / iNaturalist, CC0 1.0 (opens in a new tab)

Migration

At a glance

Size: About 20 to 25 cm long
Weight: About 50 to 110 g
Habitat: Freshwater marshes, wet fields and marshy pond edges
Diet: Seeds of marsh plants, insects and snails
In Georgia: A fairly common migrant and winter visitor
Voice: A descending whinny, and a rising "ker-wee"
Rabies vector: No

Identification

Key marks: Grey-brown and plump; short, bright yellow bill; black face in adults; barred flanks; cocked tail
Told apart from: Virginia rail, which has a long bill and rusty breast
Where to look: Marsh edges, especially where seeds are plentiful

Behaviour

Soras walk through marsh plants and feed on seeds, especially wild rice and smartweed. Despite looking like poor fliers, they migrate long distances, some reaching South America.

Why they matter

The sora is the most numerous rail in North America. Its dependence on seed-rich marshes makes it a clear sign of healthy wetlands, and it feeds hawks, herons and other predators.

Reproduction and lifecycle

Nest — A basket of plants over shallow water
Eggs — Usually 8 to 11
Incubation — About 18 to 20 days
Chicks — Black and downy with a tuft of orange bristles on the chin; leave the nest within a day
Flight — At about five weeks
Lifespan — A few years

Living around people

Soras collide with windows and towers on night migration.

Misconceptions

Rails can barely fly. Soras make migrations of thousands of kilometres.

Related species

Seasonal activity

When this species is breeding, and when there are nests on the ground. Mowing during the shaded months is how most nests are found.

Breeding and active nests by month for this species
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Breeding	Jan: no	Feb: no	Mar: no	Apr: no	May: no	Jun: no	Jul: no	Aug: no	Sep: no	Oct: no	Nov: no	Dec: no
Active nests	Jan: no	Feb: no	Mar: no	Apr: no	May: no	Jun: no	Jul: no	Aug: no	Sep: no	Oct: no	Nov: no	Dec: no
Notes	Wintering	Wintering	Migrating north	Migrants passing	Last birds leave	Nesting farther north	Chicks	Migration begins	Arriving in Georgia	Migrants passing	Wintering	Wintering

Where it lives

Recorded in 90 states and provinces. Each one links to the other animals there, and to the rehabilitators licensed for them.

United States

Canada

If you found one

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