He was born in Kentville, Nova Scotia in 1905 and grew up in nearby Wolfville, where he was mentored by the noted local ornithologist Robie W. Tufts.
Rand published the results as his thesis for his PhD It was on this expedition that he met Richard Archbold, zoologist and philanthropist, with whom he became a lifelong friend.
Archbold subsequently financed and led a series of biological expeditions to New Guinea in the 1930s in which Rand participated and co-led.
He was a frequent contributor to The Auk, the ornithological journal of the American Ornithologists' Union, an organisation of which he was elected a Fellow as well as serving as its President in 1962–1964.
As well as numerous articles and scientific papers, major reports and books authored or coauthored by Rand include: