Confined to marshy vegetation, the Virginia Rail seldom ventures out into the open except early in the morning. Then it walks and runs boldly across floating aquatic vegetation with its tail cocked up. This rail feeds on aquatic invertebrates, earthworms and some fish. The nest is a layered island of vegetation piled in a dense clump, often on floating vegetation.
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Limited to salt and brackish marshes along the coast, only in the desert southwest does the Clapper Rail occur in freshwater marshes. Early in the morning and late in the afternoon, these large rails often will emerge from the dense aquatic vegetation and walk boldly along the water\'s edge with the short tail pointed up. One of the best times to see this skulking species is at exceptionally high tides when individuals are forced out into the open by the inundation.