Porzana carolina                                               Photo Travis Blunden ©

The small, plump Sora rail is a winter visitor to Florida. Although these birds are common, they can be difficult to spot in the thick vegetation where they like to forage.

You will often hear a Sora rail before you see it – their voice is a slow whistling call and a high-pitched keek. Unlike other long-billed rails, Sora have a short chicken-like yellow bill which they use to pick up seeds, plants and insects.

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