Virginia Rail - Rallus limicola

Habitat

Freshwater marshes and wetlands are the preferred habitats of the Virginia rail. It will sometimes inhabit salt marshes. The most important features of its habitat are shallow water, heavy plant cover and abundant food.

Diet

The Virginia rail probes standing water, moist soil and mudflats with its long bill to find food. It consumes small aquatic invertebrates such as beetles, spiders and snails. It also eats fish, frogs and small snakes. In the winter when food is less available, the Virginia rail eats aquatic plants and seeds.

Life Cycle

Nests are built in May. Male and females build their nest together in a marsh with abundant plant cover. Above their nest, they build a canopy by weaving surrounding tall plants for added protection. The Virginia rail often builds several dummy nests in its territory.

The female lays 8-9 eggs. Both the male and female incubate the eggs and young hatch after 19 days. The young chicks develop very quickly; the young begin to run around the nest, drink and swim only 11 hours after hatching!

Behavior

The Virginia rail has very strong legs and weak wings. With its strong legs, it can walk and run on floating marsh plants. It only flies during migration.