Virginia Rail
photo by Phil Swanson
Rallus limicola
L 9 1/2″(24 cm).
Song or calls:
Listen (NGPC audio)
Loud descending “kid kid kidick kidick” grunting noise.
Description: Sexes similar. Gray face, white throat, long bill, cinnamon breast, and black and white barring on belly. Back is cinnamon colored with black mottling. Juvenile is black-brown above, with black or gray mottling below.
Behavior: Often briefly seen foraging at dawn or dusk.
Habitat: Marshes with extensive emergent vegetation. Nests are in water among vegetation.
Where in Nebraska: Uncommon spring and fall migrant. Regular breeding resident across the state but, less common in Panhandle of Nebraska.
Fun Facts: A group of Virginia Rails is called a “reel” of rails.