Sora - (Porzana carolina)

A common, but rarely seen, marsh bird in the Imperial Valley. To spot this bird you must be a bird stalker - not just a bird watcher. I have seen this bird in the extensive cattail marshes at the southern end of the Salton Sea, but most of my sightings are at Fig Lagoon near Seeley. I was hidden by Arrow-weed brush with the sun at my back waiting for shy Common Moorhens and possibly a Virginia Rail to come out from hiding. After two Moorhens appeared, a male Sora came out to feed at the water's edge. He gobbled down pond moss like Popeye eats spinach! If you can remain still long enough to observe American Coots and Moorhens without alarming them - the smaller, secretive Sora will think it is safe to come out.

If you are interested in learning more about this bird online - I recommend you start with the Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/infocenter.html

They present photographs, songs, identification tips, maps, and life history information for North American birds - including the Sora

OTHER OUTSIDE LINKS FOR THIS BIRD:

Male Sora - Great closeup of a male Sora feeding; note the black face mask, yellow bill and white patch under the tail. displayed by the "Nature of New England" Web site's archive of ornithological photographs.

Species Notes - No photo, but good information, displayed by the California Department of Fish & Game's "California Wildlife Habitat Relationships System" Web site.

The following "WAV" format sound file is copyright protected by Doug Van Gausig of Sedona, Arizona, as part of the "Sounds of Nature" Web site:

• http://users.sedona.net/~becky/sora1.wav - Sora call

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This site is maintained by:

Eldon R. Caldwell
Imperial Valley College
Email: eldonc@imperial.cc.ca.us