Small rail of shallow freshwater wetlands with dense emergent vegetation. Uses brackish marshes during migration. Note stubby yellow, bill, black mask, and gray cheek. Walks through shallow wetlands with a jerking motion flicking and raising its tail. Juveniles are pale below and brown above with a buffy face.

The Sora makes its presence known with plaintive whistles and whinnies rising from the marshes all across North America. Despite its abundance, it is not often seen: As with other rails, it spends most of its time hidden in dense marshy growth or wet meadows.

The sora, sora rail or Carolina crake (Porzana carolina) is a small waterbird of the rail family Rallidae, sometimes also referred to as the sora rail or sora crake, that occurs throughout much of North America. The genus name Porzana is derived from Venetian terms for small rails, and the specific carolina refers to the Carolina Colony.

It may not seem like it, because seeing a Sora takes some effort, but the Sora is the most abundant and widespread rail in North America. Soras have earned several nicknames including Carolina rail, soree, meadow chicken, and ortolan.

Fairly small rail; short yellow bill, black face, and gray neck distinctive. Found in marshes with grasses or reeds; generally shy but often seen foraging at the edge of shallow water. Buffy juvenile often mistaken for much more secretive Yellow Rail; note different back pattern and the fact that if you see the bird well enough to actually note ...

Fairly small rail; short yellow bill, black face, and gray neck distinctive. Found in marshes with grasses or reeds; generally shy but often seen foraging at the edge of shallow water. Buffy juvenile often mistaken for much more secretive Yellow Rail; note different back pattern and the fact that if you see the bird well enough to actually note ...

Soras are common and the most abundant rail species in North America. Their population was stable between 1966 and 2019, according to the North American Breeding Bird Survey. Partners in Flight rates Sora 9 out of 20 on the Continental Concern Score, indicating a species of low conservation concern. Although Sora populations are stable, they ...

Sora, or Rail. Not many years have elapsed since it was supposed by some of the inhabitants of those districts to which thousands of this species of Rail resort at particular periods, that the Soras buried themselves in the mud at the approach of cold weather, for the purpose of there spending the winter in a state of torpidity.

The Sora, scientifically known as Porzana carolina, is a small and elusive waterbird belonging to the rail family Rallidae. This species, sometimes referred to as the sora rail or sora crake, is adorned with dark-marked brown upperparts and a striking blue-grey face and underparts.

The Sora is a small waterbird, sometimes also referred to as the sora rail or sora crake. Adult birds have dark-marked brown upperparts, a blue-grey face and underparts, and black and white barring on the flanks. They have a short thick yellow bill, with black markings on the face at the base of the bill and on the throat.