Virginia Rail

Description: This small rail is rust and brown with gray cheeks and a dark crown. The bill is reddish with a slight curve. The wings are chestnut, the sides are striped with white, and the feet and legs are reddish. The sexes are similar in appearance. Average size: 8½-10 inches. Average weight: 2-4 ounces. The males are slightly larger.

Science: The Virginia rail breeds throughout much of the United States, southern Canada, and parts of Mexico. It prefers shallow freshwater marshes with a moderate amount of vegetation. Most birds migrate; however, there are populations in the southwest that do not. Migrating birds winter along the west coast of the United States, Baja California, and along the southeastern Atlantic coast and the Gulf Coast. Their habitat is similar in the winter, although birds are occasionally found on brackish and saltwater coastal marshes. Birds use their bills to dig for slugs, snails, and other invertebrates. They also eat fish and some seeds of marsh plants. Their call is a series of higher-pitched clicks and grunts, which are mostly heard during breeding season. The population is now thought to be stable, following a period of steep decline due to loss of habitat.

Hunting: Most birds are taken incidentally by waterfowl hunters or hunters seeking clapper rails. These birds often run as opposed to flush when threatened. The eating quality is fair: the meat can be strong-tasting.