Sora (crake)

The Sora, Porzana carolina, is a small waterbird, of the family Rallidae.

Adults are brown on top and light underneath, with a blue-grey face and front. They have a short thick yellow bill, with black facial marking at the base. They have yellowish legs.

Their breeding habitat is marshes throughout much of North America. They nest in a well-concealed location in dense vegetation. They are more often seen than heard.

They migrate from to the southern United States and northern South America. Sora is a very rare vagrant to western Europe.

These birds forage while walking or swimming. They are omnivores, eating seeds, insects and snails.

They are sometimes seen walking near open water. They are fairly common, despite a decrease of suitable habitat in recent times.