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Virginia Rail
Rallus limicola
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
Migration Flyway
Showing primary migration corridor(s) for this species
Last Spotted Near You
About the Virginia Rail
The Virginia rail (Rallus limicola) is a small waterbird, of the family Rallidae. These birds remain fairly common despite continuing loss of habitat, but are secretive by nature and more often heard than seen. They are also considered a game species in some provinces and states, though rarely hunted. The Ecuadorian rail is often considered a subspecies, but some taxonomic authorities consider it distinct.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Rallus limicola
- Family
- Rails, Gallinules, and Coots
- Order
- Gruiformes
Similar species
Other members of the rails, gallinules, and coots family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- American Coot Fulica americana
- Aztec Rail Rallus tenuirostris
- Azure Gallinule Porphyrio flavirostris
- Baillon's Crake Zapornia pusilla
- Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
- Clapper Rail Rallus crepitans
- Common Gallinule Gallinula galeata
- Corn Crake Crex crex
- Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
- Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
- Giant Wood-Rail Aramides ypecaha
- Gray-breasted Crake Laterallus exilis
Know when the Virginia Rail turns up near you
How rare bird alerts work →Gear for spotting Virginia Rail
Optics
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Cameras
Cameras for Bird Photography
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