What rail?

[HandyAndy2018]

I know this pic is not the best, but it's all I have, and hopefully it's enough. I'm hoping to hear some opinions from the experts here. I spotted this bird in New Brunswick on July 23, and followed it a bit, but it always stayed a step ahead of me and my camera. This shot of it ducking into the reeds was the only one I could get.

I'm sure it's a rail of some sort, and am thinking it's likely Virginia. Nothing else seems to fit. I cropped and brightened the photo a bit, but it's otherwise unaltered.Anyone else have any thoughts?

[akiley]

That's a Red-winged Blackbird.

[Cloebird]

I could be wrong but I'm thinking the bird in the photo has longer legs?? But I'm no expert. I have  taken pictures of the Virginia Rail at adult and a couple of juvenile stages in the same habitat along with Blackbirds too! 

[Charlie Spencer]

Are there any rails with pale eyestripes / supercillia?  That says Red-Winged to me.  This bird doesn't look stocky enough vertically for a rail to me, too wide laterally, with too much tail.

Edited December 9, 2018 by Charlie Spencer

[The Bird Nuts]

3 hours ago, akiley said:

That's a Red-winged Blackbird.

Agreed.

[Cloebird]

I wasn’t trying to contradict anyone. Sorry if I came across that way. As I said I’m not an expert. I saw the white stripe too and saw something similar in my pictures of rail. But maybe it’s not what you call it, supercillia, so that’s what makes it different too. 

[meghann]

11 minutes ago, Cloebird said:

I wasn’t trying to contradict anyone. Sorry if I came across that way.

That's part of why we're here, to have discussions and learn!

Another thing to look at here is the tail shape. Rails have tails that come to a point. This bird does not.

[Cloebird]

Thanks for the clarification. I’m trying to watch for details and I missed that one! Very important one. 

[Charlie Spencer]

49 minutes ago, Cloebird said:

I wasn’t trying to contradict anyone. Sorry if I came across that way. As I said I’m not an expert. I saw the white stripe too and saw something similar in my pictures of rail. But maybe it’s not what you call it, supercillia, so that’s what makes it different too. 

And I apologize if my questions came across as confrontational.  I was asking the membership in general about rails and supercillia (technically correct fancy-schmancy for 'eyebrows').  Like @meghann said, we're all here to learn!  

Edited December 9, 2018 by Charlie Spencer