Virginia Rail Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Song
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Saskatchewan, June 03, 2017Recorded by John Patterson / Macaulay Library
Calls
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West Virginia, July 02, 2000Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Female song
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Pennsylvania, May 25, 1966Recorded by George B. Reynard / Macaulay Library
Calls
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New York, June 18, 2008Recorded by Bob McGuire / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Manitoba, June 25, 1960Recorded by William W. H. Gunn / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Songs

Virginia Rails are particularly vocal in the spring. The birds give a repeated tick-it in the hours surrounding dawn and dusk; this vocalization is thought to be made only by males. Females and males also sing a kick-er that has a stuttering quality to it.

Calls

A long sequence of piglike grunts that tends to trail off at the end emanates from many a wetland in spring. Males and females perform duetting grunts to defend their territories and to communicate with each other throughout the breeding season.