Photo: Elaine R. Wilson, www.naturespicsonline.com / CC BY-SA 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Sora
Porzana carolina
Sora (Porzana carolina) — Cranes & Rails of North America.
Found across 14 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Sora (Porzana carolina) is a member of the Rallidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 74.8 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Gruiformes
- Family Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots
- Genus Porzana
- Species carolina
Quick facts
- Weight
- 74.8 g
- Diet
- Omnivores
- Family
- Rallidae
- Order
- Gruiformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Sora is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Sora is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
The Sora (Porzana carolina) belongs to the Rallidae family of the order Gruiformes. Its range spans North America. Its distribution covers NA widespread.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 74.8 g, with a wing length of about 10.3 cm and a tail of around 5.1 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 9.8 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Sora?
The Sora is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 74.8 g.
Where does the Sora live?
The Sora is found across North America with a range covering NA widespread, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Sora belong to?
The Sora (Porzana carolina) belongs to the Rallidae family, in the order Gruiformes.
What does the Sora eat?
The Sora is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.
Does the Sora migrate?
The Sora is migratory, making regular seasonal journeys between its breeding and non-breeding ranges.
Is the Sora endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Sora make?
1 real field recording of the Sora — including its song — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Sora's range?
The Sora has a mapped global range of about 9.8 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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