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Sora

Status Uncommon in summer, very rare in winter. Breeds. This is the most frequently encountered rail in Nova Scotia. It normally first appears in April (average 26 April, earliest 8 April). One killed by a cat on 11 March 1942 on Heckman's Island, Lunenburg County, and another foun emaciated and recently dead on 4 March 1984 on Chebucto Head, Halifax County, were abnormally early. The Sora is widespread in summer but fairly common only in the border region. Fall migration, evidenced by birds appearing in places where they do not breed, is underway in August (average 23 August, earliest 21 July). Latest reports are generally for October or November, but a few linger into early winter (for example, sightings were made during the Halifax East Christmas Bird Counts of 1975, 1976 and 1978). One bird lived through winter 1978-79 at Russell Lake, Dartmouth, where it was last seen on 7 April (F.L. Lavender).

Description Length: 20-23 cm. All plumages: A short-billed, chunky little rail without any rufous. Adults: Region about base of bill, throat and line through centre of crown black; upperparts dark brown, streaked with black, some feathers with whitish gray edges; breasts and sides of head pale gray; flanks dark gray, barred with white; bill yellow. Juveniles: Similar but buffier and without black facial marks.

Breeding Nest: Always in marshy places, usually fastened to the stalks of reeds, just above the water level. It is composed of coarse dead reeds and a lining of soft grass. Eggs: 8-15; creamy or buffy white, spotted profusely with rich browns. The first Sora nest recorded for Nova Scotia was found near the New Brunswick border by George Boyer on 1 June 1954. It contained 12 eggs, some fresh, others with soft embryos, indicating that the bird had begun to incubate before laying was completed. Since then, nests have been found in the same area and other scattered localities.

Range Breeds from southeastern Mackenzie Valley, southern Quebec and southwestern Newfoundland, south to northern Baja California, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. Winters from southern United States to northern South America.

Remarks At home in freshwater marshes, the Sora is best located by a high-pitched whinney believed to be its note of alarm. Another common note is a clear, whistled ka-wee. To see this performer, one requires patience and a measure of good luck.