Virginia Rail (Morus bassanus)
- HABITAT - The Virginia Rail is found in freshwater and brackish marshes, swamps and reedy lakes. In the winter and during migration, it can be found in salt marshes.
- DIET -Virginia Rails eat mostly invertebrates, such as insects, insect larvae and crustaceans, but they will also eat small fish and frogs. During winter months, they will sometimes eat aquatic vegetation. The rail wades in shallow water near emergent vegetation and will use its bill to probe the mud for invertebrates.
- FACTS - Virginia Rails are very secretive and are heard more often than seen. They can be very vocal in the spring with a wide variery of call. (e.g. : "tick-it, "kick-er"and grunts)