Virginia Rail

Males and females are somewhat alike in size, and comparable in color. The Virginia rail stands about 7 1/2 inches tall and has a wingspan of about 14 inches. The male of the species weighs about 3 1/2 ounces while the females weigh a little less at 3 ounces. The Virginia Rail a small, chunky, short tailed, round winged bird prefers to nest on the ground in a marsh. The Virginia Rail is the most common, yet seldom seen rail. Most often people observe these birds walking as it rarely flies. Birders usually get a brief glimpse of a reddish bill and legs, banded black and white flanks and a short, upturned tail. Bird watchers tell the different from other rails by the white under its tail that it often flicks and cocks while walking and exposes the white posterior by lifting its tail. The adult Virginia Rail has a long, generally reddish, slightly curved bill. The adult Virginia Rails have a dark brown back, with light brown feather edges, and a reddish-brown patch on its wings. Its head is gray with the back of the neck and its cap darker. Their chin, throat, front of the neck and chest are white while the belly is light chestnut in color. This rail has a short weak flight.

With its compact body, limber backbone, and varied feather tips around its head the rails allowed them to go through dense marsh vegetation. Virginia Rails are nimble on their feet and most often escape danger by running. They may also dive and swim, using their wings to propel themselves underwater. Usually the Virginia Rail inhabits wetland areas, but can be locally plentiful if it finds favorable habitat conditions. Like other North American rails it is monogamous, territorial, and fruitful.

At hatching the new born rail has a pale pink bill with narrow black band just away from the opening in the nasal cavity and white egg tooth at tip of upper. As the young bird develops the black band expands. By two weeks old about one third of the upper and lower beak becomes black and their body absorbs the egg tooth. At birth, glossy blacks down with dark green gloss completely covers the new rail. They are white in color about the front of its neck and breast mottled with smudges of black. It displays a chestnut patch on its wing. Nestling, on their gray legs are able to run almost at birth.

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