Related to the Purple Gallinule, the Virginia Rail is a small secretive marsh bird that is a very fast runner. (Note the long toes!) These birds eat mostly insects, but will also feed on tiny fish, snails, weeds, and some seeds. The nest is a loosely woven cup usually near or over water. They spend the winter in southern United States to Guatemala.

This young Virginia Rail was attacked by a cat, but recovered following treatment, and was released.