RAILS 
173 
Field Marks. Obvious rail appearance and habit, size, general reddish coloration, 
and long red bill. 
Nesting. In wet marsh, nest of grass. 
Distribution. North America. Breeds across Canada throughout the prairies, perhaps 
north of them, and in British Columbia into Cariboo District; the northern limit of range 
is not well known. 
This rail is not quite so common as the Sora, but like it more often 
heard than seen. Its characteristic notes are a hard, dry, cackling laugh 
and a calm whistle given in an ascending scale. 
214. Sora Rail. sora. Carolina rail, le rale ortolan. Porzana Carolina. 
L, 8-5. Plate XX 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 
246). 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 distinguish the Sora from 
the Virginia Rail. From the Yellow Rail, its larger size; 
the hint of olive rather than ruddy ochre in its general color- 
ation; the back being striped rather than crossbarred 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 
separate it from the Virginia; larger size and lack of white 
patch in wing distinguish 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 Hush. 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. le rale jaune. Coturnicops novehoracensis . L, 7. A short- 
billed rail (See Figure 246), 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 ochraceous tint, mixed with dark brown, and 
the back is barred with fine white lines. The breast is brown- 
ish 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 crossbarring 
of the back and white secondaries are determinative. 
Field Marks. A very small, brownish rail with white 
wing patches prominent in flight (Figure 247). 
Nesting. On the ground in damp edges of marshes, nest 
of grass. 
Distribution. Eastern and central North America, and 
indefinitely north. Probably the most northern rail in 
summer distribution. Although noted in all our eastern and 
Prairie Provinces, has not been recorded in British Columbia. 
This is the most expert of the rails in skulk- 
ing and hiding. As it is almost impossible to flush, 
it may be far more common than we suspect. 
76916-12 
Figure 247 
Wing of Yellow Hail; 
scale, about §. 
Short bill of Sora Rail; 
natural size. 
