Virginia Rail

RÂLE DE VIRGINIE

Rallus limicola Vieillot

 

Uncommon breeder in wetlands in the prairie region and the southern boreal forest; accidental in the north.

 

Virginia Rails are usually found in the shallower parts of large cattail marshes, and less commonly in sedges. The rusty breast and long, slender bill immediately distinguish this bird from other regular Manitoba rails. While the Virginia Rail is largely restricted to North American wetlands, closely related species range widely in Eurasia, Africa and South America.

 

Eight adult and three juveniles were seen by Ken Gardner during a short walk at Oak Hammock Marsh on 4 August 1975.¹ Few birders could match this total, but it does suggest that the species’ reputation for shyness is exaggerated. Nevertheless, it often passes unnoticed except for its distinctive cries, which are most frequently heard at night. It responds readily to a recording or even a crude imitation of its loud, grunting wahk-wahk-wahk… call. The mechanical kik-kik-kiddik call is a little like the ticking of a Yellow Rail. Least often heard, and a mystery to ornithologists for many years, is the shrill kik-kik-kik-keeer known as the “kicker” call. The solution of this mystery at Fort Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan in 1964 has been described in detail by Manley Callin.²

 

Unlike the Sora and Yellow Rail, the Virginia Rail is largely restricted to southern parts of Manitoba. It is not unusual to find all three species in large wetlands with a range of water depth and a variety of emergent vegetation. The Virginia Rail’s distribution closely matches that of the Marsh Wren, which—being more numerous and conspicuous—might be considered an indicator species for suitable habitat. The breeding range extends from the U.S.A. border northwards at least to The Pas in the west, and to the Winnipeg River and the marshy fringes of southern Lake Winnipeg in the east. The species is more common in the boreal plains region, especially the immense marshes near Waterhen Lake, than in the boreal shield, but it can be found at shallow shield lakes in and near Nopiming Provincial Park. Much farther north, a Virginia Rail was found at Churchill from 29 June to 3 July 1980, and there were five reports there in 1988, a drought year on the prairies.³ Also possibly drought-related were records at Cedar Lake and York Factory in or about 1934.⁴

 

Spring migration occurs mainly in May, with occasional arrivals in the last few days of April. Nests or flightless young have been recorded across southern Manitoba from Pinawa and Oak Hammock Marsh in the east to Brandon and Lyleton in the west. Egg dates for 13 nests in the Nest Record file, plus various published records, range from 25 May to 6 July, and partly grown young have been noted in July and early August. The species is recorded too rarely on Breeding Bird Surveys to detect any population trends. Fall migration is poorly documented, but few birds remain after September, the tardiest straggler being reported at Winnipeg on 9 November 1967.⁵

 

¹ Gardner 1981; ² Callin 1968; ³ Jehl, in preparation; ⁴ CN 868, 23 October 1971; ⁵ E. LaBrun, note in MM files.

 

G.E. Holland, P. Taylor