This little rail is best noted for its whinnying call. Alternate Adult: Upperparts are brown and black, with white feather edges creating tiny white speckles. Much of the head and breast are gray, with black covering the face and throat. The bill is short, thick and pale yellow. The sides are heavily barred black, white, and buff. The lower belly is whitish. The undertail coverts are light buff. Legs are yellowish. At close range, note the tiny white spot behind the eye. Basic Adult: Very similar to Alternate Adult, but black on the face is greatly reduced. The throat is whitish, and the bill is duller. Juvenile: Warmer brown overall, with buffy underparts, and no black on the face. Resembles Yellow Rail, but has vertical barring on sides and lacks stripes on the back. In flight, juvenile Sora shows a pale trailing edge to the secondaries, but not a solid white panel like Yellow Rail.

Length: 20 (cm) Wingspan: 30 (cm)

Voice:

Call is a long descending whinny, starting quickly and then slowing: WHEE-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee-ee. Also an ascending koo-WEE.

Habitat:

Breeds in freshwater marshes with cattails and sedges. In migration and winter, also uses brackish and saltwater marshes.

Behavior:

Usually hidden in thick vegetation. Occasionally feeds along the edge of open mudflats. Swims across deeper water.

Feeding:

Feeds on seeds of aquatic plants and on invertebrates.