‘By Kurt Buzard MD
Common Name: Sora
Scientific Name: Porzana carolina
Order/Family: Gruiformes/Rallidae (Rails)
Description: Sora have dark-marked brown upperparts, a blue-grey face and underparts, and black and white barring on the flanks. They have a short thick yellow bill, with black markings on the face at the base of the bill and on the throat. Sexes are similar, but young soras lack the black facial markings and have a whitish face and buff breast.
Distribution: The sora is common across North America, naturally occurring in 49 US states (the exception being Hawaii), all 10 Canadian provinces and 2 Canadian territories. Outside of US/Canada, the species is found throughout Central America, the Caribbean, and northern South America.
Habitat: The sora’s breeding habitat is marshes throughout much of North America. They nest in a well-concealed location in dense vegetation.
