juv yellow rail or juv sora? Larimer

[ronbco]

I'm torn on an id.

In a ditch at Lon Hagler res.

I got great looks but not a great pic. Did not know what field marks to focus on to distinguish sora from yellow rail.

I happened to be still/quiet listening for another bird when it stepped out just at the edge of the ditch foliage and foraged partly under cover.

overall brown/grey/black. Legs green, 

bill had green tinge (no yellow) and no black mask, streaked back pattern - suggesting rail

but tail turned up showing some white suggesting sora

From ebird it looks like yellow rail is a little more likely this time of year.

Ron Bolton

Berthoud

[ronbco]

sorry I mixed up yellow and virginia rail in terms of being possible in CO... obviously must have been a sora