Virginia rail

This article is about the bird. For the high speed rail line serving Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., see Virginia Railway Express. For rail travel in the whole state, see List of railroads in Virginia.

Virginia rail
In Morro Bay, California, USA
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae
Genus: Rallus
Species:
R. limicola
Binomial name
Rallus limicola
Vieillot, 1819
  Breeding
  Year-round
  Nonbreeding

The Virginia rail (Rallus limicola) is a small waterbird, of the family Rallidae. These birds remain fairly common despite continuing loss of habitat, but are secretive by nature and more often heard than seen.[2] They are also considered a game species in some provinces and states, though rarely hunted.[3] The Ecuadorian rail is often considered a subspecies, but some taxonomic authorities consider it distinct.

  1. ^ BirdLife International (2019). "Rallus limicola". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T22692479A155617216. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22692479A155617216.en. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Virginia Rail". Audubon. National Audubon Society. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
  3. ^ Tacha, Thomas C.; Braun, Clait E. (1994). Migratory shore and upland game bird management in North America. Washington, D.C.: International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in cooperation with the Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Dept. of the Interior. pp. 193–206. ISBN 0935868755.