The sora, a small waterbird of the rail family, is a common inhabitant of North American wetlands. Despite its widespread presence, this bird is known for its secretive nature, often remaining hidden within dense marsh vegetation. Its elusive behavior means it is more frequently heard than seen, making its distinctive calls a primary way to detect its presence.
Identifying a Sora
Soras are compact, chicken-like birds, measuring between 7.5 and 11.8 inches in length and weighing 1.7 to 4.0 ounces. Their plumage features dark-marked brown feathers on their upperparts, contrasting with a blue-grey face and underparts. Their sides display black and white barring. They have a short, thick, bright yellow bill, which has black markings at its base and on the throat in adult birds.
Adult soras have a black mask across their face and a black bib on their throat during the breeding season. Their legs are yellowish-green, and they possess long toes, which help them navigate their wetland environments. A short tail is often held upright, revealing white undertail coverts. Juvenile soras lack the black facial markings and appear buffier below.
Sora Habitats
Soras primarily inhabit freshwater wetlands, including marshes, wet meadows, and bogs, throughout North America. They prefer areas with dense emergent vegetation such as cattails, sedges, and bulrushes. These plant communities provide cover and nesting sites. While they use freshwater habitats, they may also use salt marshes during winter.
The species is widely distributed across 49 U.S. states and all Canadian provinces and territories for breeding. In winter, soras migrate south, reaching the southern United States, Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America. They favor shallow water, often less than one foot deep, for foraging and nesting.
Sora Behavior and Vocalizations
The sora is known for its secretive nature, often staying hidden within marsh vegetation. When moving, it walks slowly along muddy edges or on floating vegetation, flicking its tail upwards. Despite appearing to be weak fliers, soras are capable of long-distance migrations, often traveling hundreds of miles at night. They are omnivorous, eating mainly seeds from wetland plants, insects, and snails. They forage by picking items from the water’s surface or probing their bills into mud and vegetation.
Vocalizations are an important way to detect these elusive birds. One recognized call is a loud, descending “whinny,” which sounds like a horse’s whinny and often slows down as it progresses. Another call is a softer, ascending “ker-wee” or “sor-ah,” which gives the bird its name. Soras also produce a “keek” sound, particularly when near their nests. These calls are frequently heard at dawn and dusk, especially during their breeding and migration seasons.