Virginia Rail

Virginia Rail, breeding adult; Patagonia Lake, AZ, May.

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Conservation Status
4. Other Names
5. Cool Facts
6. Full detailed species account

A secretive bird of freshwater marshes, the Virginia Rail most often remains hidden in dense vegetation. It possesses many adaptations for moving through its habitat, including a laterally compressed body, long toes, and flexible vertebrae.

Description

• Small, chicken-like marsh bird.
• Compact body.
• Short tail.
• Strong legs.
• Rufous throat and breast.
• Gray cheeks.
• Long, slightly curved red bill.

• Size: 20-27 cm (8-11 in)
• Wingspan: 32-38 cm (13-15 in)
• Weight: 65-95 g (2.29-3.35 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar; male slightly larger.

Sound

Long sequences of pig-like grunts. Also a repeated "kid-dik."

Conservation Status

Declining in some areas, but not protected by special designations or measures. Information on population trends is sparse.

Other Names

Râle de Virginie (French)
Rascón de agua (Spanish)

Cool Facts

• The forehead feathers of the Virginia Rail are adapted to withstand wear from pushing through dense marsh vegetation.
• The Virginia Rail can swim under water, propelling itself with its wings. It swims in this way probably only to flee predators.

• The Virginia Rail and other rail species have the highest ratio of leg muscles to flight muscles of any birds.

• The Virginia Rail builds numerous "dummy nests" in addition to the one where eggs are actually laid.

Sources used to construct this page:

Conway, C. J. 1995. Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola). In The Birds of North America, No. 173 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists? Union, Washington, D.C.