photo by Phil Swanson

Porzana carolina
L 8 3/4″(22 cm).

Song or calls:
Listen (NGPC audio)

Plaintive “ner-wee,” also a descending whinny.

Description: Sexes similar. Short yellow bill. Brown mottling on back. Gray head, neck, and breast. Black and white barring on belly. Face, throat, and part of breast are black. Juvenile is a paler version of adult.

Habitat: Marshes with plenty of dense, emergent vegetation.

Where in Nebraska: Common spring and fall migrant and locally common summer resident across the state. Less common in the Panhandle. Regular breeder.

Fun Facts: The Sora is the most common and widely distributed rail in North American and in Nebraska.

 
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