The Virginia Rail is a small, secretive marsh bird with a long, slightly curved reddish bill, gray cheeks, and rufous breast. Its body is laterally flattened, giving rise to the phrase 'thin as a rail,' to squeeze through dense marsh vegetation. Its grunting, pig-like calls are far more often heard than the bird is seen.
Best time to see a Virginia Rail
The best time to see a Virginia Rail is April–August, when about 60% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 5,336 research-grade iNaturalist observations.
Not certain it is a Virginia Rail? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.
Recent Virginia Rail sightings near you
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