Sora Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesSora
Adult
Walks through shallow wetlands with a jerking motion flicking and raising its tail.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryMissouri, May 10, 1997Adult
In flight, note relatively long wings with a pale trailing edge.
© wes serafin / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, April 28, 2016Adult
Small secretive bird of freshwater marshes. The short tail is often held up showing white underneath. The face is gray with a black mask and a thick and stubby yellow bill, reminiscent of candy corn.
© Ryan Yann / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, April 21, 2018Adult
Small rail of shallow freshwater wetlands with dense emergent vegetation. Uses brackish marshes during migration. Note stubby yellow, bill, black mask, and gray cheek.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 04, 2016Juvenile
A small chickenlike marshbird with a stubby bill. Frequently holds short tail cocked up.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, September 11, 2019Juvenile
Juveniles are pale below and brown above with a buffy face. Found in shallow wetlands with a lot of emergent vegetation.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, July 17, 2016Adult
A small, chickenlike bird with long toes. Often cocks its short, stubby tail.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 11, 2017Adult
Walks through shallow wetlands with a jerking motion flicking and raising its tail.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryMissouri, May 10, 1997Adult
In flight, note relatively long wings with a pale trailing edge.
© wes serafin / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, April 28, 2016Adult
Small secretive bird of freshwater marshes. The short tail is often held up showing white underneath. The face is gray with a black mask and a thick and stubby yellow bill, reminiscent of candy corn.
© Ryan Yann / Macaulay LibraryIndiana, April 21, 2018Adult
Small rail of shallow freshwater wetlands with dense emergent vegetation. Uses brackish marshes during migration. Note stubby yellow, bill, black mask, and gray cheek.
© Ian Davies / Macaulay LibraryNew York, May 04, 2016Juvenile
A small chickenlike marshbird with a stubby bill. Frequently holds short tail cocked up.
© Brad Imhoff / Macaulay LibraryOhio, September 11, 2019Juvenile
Juveniles are pale below and brown above with a buffy face. Found in shallow wetlands with a lot of emergent vegetation.
© Jay McGowan / Macaulay LibraryNew York, July 17, 2016Adult
A small, chickenlike bird with long toes. Often cocks its short, stubby tail.
© Matt Davis / Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, January 11, 2017Adult
Walks through shallow wetlands with a jerking motion flicking and raising its tail.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryMissouri, May 10, 1997Adult
In flight, note relatively long wings with a pale trailing edge.
© wes serafin / Macaulay LibraryIllinois, April 28, 2016Similar SpeciesYellow Rail
Adult
The Yellow Rail is smaller than a Sora and much more difficult to see. It has a golden hue to it unlike the Sora.
© Hugues Brunoni / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, July 11, 1997Similar SpeciesBlack Rail
Adult (Northern)
The Black Rail is smaller than a Sora and much more difficult to see. It is darker overall than a Sora and has a smaller black bill.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryNew JerseySimilar SpeciesVirginia Rail
Adult
The Virginia Rail has a longer and redder bill than a Sora. Note the reddish neck on Virginia Rail and gray neck on Sora.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 06, 2016Similar SpeciesYellow Rail
Adult
The Yellow Rail is smaller than a Sora and much more difficult to see. It has a golden hue to it unlike the Sora.
© Hugues Brunoni / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, July 11, 1997Similar SpeciesBlack Rail
Adult (Northern)
The Black Rail is smaller than a Sora and much more difficult to see. It is darker overall than a Sora and has a smaller black bill.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryNew JerseySimilar SpeciesVirginia Rail
Adult
The Virginia Rail has a longer and redder bill than a Sora. Note the reddish neck on Virginia Rail and gray neck on Sora.
© Evan Lipton / Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, May 06, 2016Similar SpeciesYellow Rail
Adult
The Yellow Rail is smaller than a Sora and much more difficult to see. It has a golden hue to it unlike the Sora.
© Hugues Brunoni / Macaulay LibraryQuebec, July 11, 1997Similar SpeciesBlack Rail
Adult (Northern)
The Black Rail is smaller than a Sora and much more difficult to see. It is darker overall than a Sora and has a smaller black bill.
© Tom Johnson / Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey