SongLark
Bird call
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) call
A grunting, pig-like series that runs down the scale, and a sharp kid-ick, kid-ick.
Listen to the Virginia Rail call
A field recording of the Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) by Sydney Gerig, shared on iNaturalist. Listen for the Virginia Rail in wetland habitats.
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Sounds similar
Birds that sound similar to the Virginia Rail
These birds belong to the rail family, like the Virginia Rail, so their calls can sound alike.
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Australasian Swamphen Porphyrio melanotus
Maori: pukeko. Loud harsh screeches and nasal shrieks from wetland edges.
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Spotless Crake Zapornia tabuensis
Maori: puweto. A sharp book-book and a purring roll from dense raupo.
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Weka Gallirallus australis
Maori: weka. A repeated far-carrying coo-eet, often as a duet after dark.
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Ridgway's Rail Rallus obsoletus
A hard clattering kek-kek-kek across the cordgrass; endangered and local to the Bay.
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American Coot Fulica americana
Grunts, clucks and squeaky toots from open water.
Questions
Questions about the Virginia Rail
What does the Virginia Rail sound like?
A grunting, pig-like series that runs down the scale, and a sharp kid-ick, kid-ick. Listen to the recording above.
Which birds sound like the Virginia Rail?
Australasian Swamphen, Spotless Crake, Weka, Ridgway's Rail and American Coot sound similar.
Where can I hear the Virginia Rail?
SongLark teaches it in its Birds of the Pacific Northwest course.
How can I learn the Virginia Rail call?
In SongLark's Birds of the Pacific Northwest course, it comes in Level 5: Valley Fields & Marshes. SongLark teaches it by ear with real field recordings.
Courses
Learn this call in
SongLark teaches the Virginia Rail in its Birds of the Pacific Northwest course. Each course plays real field recordings and brings every bird back for review just before you would forget it.
- In Birds of the Pacific Northwest, the Virginia Rail comes in Level 5: Valley Fields & Marshes. That Level is about willamette Valley farmland, wet meadows and cattail marsh.
Learn it with these birds in Level 5 of Birds of the Pacific Northwest
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Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
A gurgling konk-la-ree ending in a buzzy trill, from a cattail perch.
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Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris
A mechanical rattling trill, like a sewing machine, deep in the reeds.
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Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas
A rolling witchety-witchety-witchety from reeds and damp scrub.
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Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta
A rich, flute-like song that bubbles and gurgles down the scale; Oregon's state bird.
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Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
A thin, buzzy song: a few high chips, then a long insect-like buzz, then a short tsip.
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Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Liquid, gurgling twitters and a cheerful, chirping song over ponds and marshes.
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Sandhill Crane Antigone canadensis
A loud, rolling, bugling garoo-oo-oo that carries for miles over fields and marshes.
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Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Females give a rising, squealing oo-eek in flight; males a thin, high, rising whistle.
Get SongLark
Learn Virginia Rail in SongLark
Install SongLark, sign in, and choose a course that teaches the Virginia Rail.
- Your first course is free. When you first sign in, you choose one course to keep.
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- One account, every device. Your progress syncs between devices.