A Comparison of the Origins of Yellow Rails (Coturnicops noveboracensis) Wintering in Oklahoma and Texas, USA

• DOI: 10.1675/063.039.0206
• Publication Date: 2016-06-30T08:14:28Z
• Authors: Christopher J. Bu...; Jennifer K. Wilson; Stephen R. Frazee; Jeffrey F. Kelly
• Keywords: Overwintering; Calidris; Wildlife refuge; Flyway; Flight feather

Numbers, densities, and sex ratios of Yellow Rails (Coturnicops noveboracensis) wintering at Red Slough Wildlife Management Area in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, USA, were approximated compared to estimates from birds coastal Texas, USA. Deuterium (δD) sulfur (δ34S) values rectrices Oklahoma Texas also examined determine where the bred. October 2009 through April 2010 banded. Fifty-six captured, population was estimated consist 90.3 ± 25.5 birds, or 5.3 1.5 rails * ha-1, which is similar published density Texas. Sex did not differ an expected 1:1 male:female ratio between Rectrices (n = 40) 32) had δD broadly consistent with southeastern Alberta James Bay Ontario Quebec, Canada. The δ34S analysis 4) 35) showed only two both enriched values, suggesting that most bred interior Canadian marshes. Although sample size small, these results suggest overwintering sites contain densities sites.