Interannual Winter Site Fidelity for Yellow and Black Rails

Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) is a species of conservation concern, while the Eastern Black (Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensis) has recently been listed as Threatened. Both winter primarily in coastal areas from Texas through North Carolina. Between-year site fidelities these have not previously reported, so we analyzed recapture histories Rails banded southeastern Oklahoma (from 2008 to 2018) and 2006 2018), well 2018. We 111 421 during this time, 94 Texas. Although were routinely recaptured within season, only five individuals between years. All birds likewise exhibited low interannual fidelity, with no recaptures. The apparent fidelity (1.1% Texas, 0% Oklahoma) (0%) similar that reported for other grassland wintering grasslands area (e.g., LeConte’s Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii), Henslow’s (A. henslowii), Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris)), speculate could potentially be advantageous use early successional habitats.