126 
214. Sora Rail. sora. Carolina rail. Porzana Carolina. L, 8-5. Plate XV B. 
A short-billed, chunky, little Rail without any shade of rufous on it. About the same size 
as the Virginia but measuring less because of the short bill (Figure 26, page 27). 
The black throat and clear, grey breast are not present in juveniles. 
Distinctions. The short bill, grey breast, and slightly olivaceous coloration of the 
back distinguishes the Sora from the Virginia Rail. From the Yellow Rail, its larger size; 
the hint of olive rather than ruddy ochre in its general coloration; the back being striped 
rather than cross-barred with white, and the all-dark secondaries. 
Field Marks. Loose, dangling flight as it rises and mouse-like skulking in the grass 
proclaim it a Rail. Short, yellow, instead of long, red bill and lack of rufous coloration 
separates it from the Virginia; larger size and lack of white patch in wing distinguishes it 
from the Yellow. 
Nesting. In wet marshes, nest of grass. 
Distribution. North America. Across the continent, north to southern Mackenzie 
breeding in Canada wherever found. 
This is the most common Rail of the prairie sloughs, at least it is the 
one most often seen, for it is not quite so inveterate a skulker as are the 
Virginia and Yellow Rails and perhaps its apparent abundance is due to 
its greater readiness to flush. It is probably not quite as common as the 
Virginia in southern British Columbia. It is more often heard than seen 
and its notes are a soft whistle, a piercing squeak, and rapid whistling 
cackle of a high pitch in a descending scale, the last being its love song. 
215. Yellow Rail. Coturnicops noveboracensis. L, 7. A short-billed Rail, smaller 
than the Sora. The coloration is similar in general pattern, but the slight olive cast on 
back and sides of the Sora is replaced in this species by a warm oehraceous tint, mixed with 
dark brown, and the back is barred with fine white lines. The breast is brownish ochre; 
throat light. The wings show prominent white patches on the secondaries in flight. 
Distinctions. To be mistaken only for the Sora, but considerably smaller. The sharp, 
fine, white cross-barring of the back and white secondaries are determinative. 
Field Marks. A very small brownish Rail with white wing patches prominent in 
flight. 
Nesting. On the ground in damp edges of marshes, nest of grass. 
Distribution. Eastern and central North America, across our Prairie Provinces and 
indefinitely north. Probably the most northern Rail in summer distribution. It has been 
noted in all our Prairie Provinces, but as yet has not been recorded in British Columbia. 
This is the most expert of the Rails in skulking and hiding. As it is 
almost impossible to flush it, it may be far more common than we suspect. 
According to actual records, it is one of the rarest birds in Canada. Its 
habits do not seem to differ much from those of the other Rails, except that 
it does not require as much water in its habitat, and is more often found 
on the shoreward, grassy sides of marshes than in wet, reedy locations. 
Its notes are said to be like the sound of two stones tapped together, with a 
very plain rhythm — tick, tick — tick, tick, tick — tick, tick, tick — tick, 
tick — and so on in alternate twos and threes. 
216. Black Rail. Credscus jamaicensis. L, 5*50. A very diminutive Rail, hardly 
arger than a Sparrow. Nearly black in coloration; head, breast, and below dark slate- 
grey, darkest, to nearly black, on crown. Above, dark woody brown with many small, white 
round spots. A rich rufous blended band across shoulders and lower neck. 
Unsubstantiated records of this minute little Rail have come from the Prairie Provinces, 
but it is an even harder bird to observe than the Yellow and we know very little of its 
distribution. It may possibly occur in Manitoba, or its close relative the Faralone Rail 
C. cotumiculus on the coast of southern British Columbia. 
Distinctions. Very small size, extremely dark colour, and fine specklings of white on 
the back . 
