Virginia Rail

Rallus limicola Vieillot, 1819

Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola, breeds widely across North America and spends the nonbreeding season in Mexico. It is a rail of freshwater and brackish marshes, and in winter it may also use salt marshes. The bird is secretive and is more often detected by sound than by sight. It has a laterally compressed body for moving through dense growth, along with strong forehead feathers, long toes, a short tail and a slim reddish bill. Adults are mainly brown, with grey cheeks, a pale eye stripe and a whitish throat.

Order

Gruiformes

Family

Rallidae — Rails, Crakes & Coots

Breeding range

North America: widespread

Nonbreeding range

Mexico