The species inhabits saline, brackish and freshwater marsh habitats. It can be found in wet meadows and savanna, coastal prairies and even impoundment areas like sewage treatment plants (Roach and Barrett 2015, Watts 2016). Coastal habitat may be influenced by tides (USFWS 2018a). An important characteristic of sites occupied by the species is typically tall, dense herbaceous vegetation, which it uses for shelter (USFWS 2018a). It occupies sites with shallower water than other rallids (Roach and Barrett 2015), but particularly juveniles require elevated refugia to retreat to in case of a rise in water level (USFWS 2018a). Particular during the breeding season, the species has strict habitat requirements, as it builds its nests low to the ground in areas of dense vegetation with water depths 1-6 cm (Watts 2016, USFWS 2018a). It feeds on terrestrial and aquatic invertebrates (Roach and Barrett 2015). The species is secretive in behaviour, moving mainly by walking and running through dense vegetation; flights are short and rare (Taylor and van Perlo 1998, USFWS 2018a).

Laterallus jamaicensis is widespread, but very local and rare, in fresh and saline marshes, wet meadows and savanna in North, Central and South America and in the Caribbean. The nominate subspecies jamaicensis occurs on the east coast of U.S.A., with sporadic records inland to Colorado and Minnesota (but no confirmed nesting since 1932). It is very local in north-east Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Panama (only in 1963), and has recently been recorded in Honduras (R. Gallardo in litt. 2013). The species is possibly breeding in Guatemala, where it may have been overlooked in the past decades (Eisermann and Avendano 2018). It is locally rare in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, but mainly a winter visitor in Jamaica and Cuba. It has probably been extirpated as a breeder from Puerto Rico (to U.S.A.) by introduced mongooses, and is now extremely rare in winter. It is recorded as a non-breeder in the Virgin Islands (to U.S.A.). There are few records from northern Brazil (Lees et al. 2014). The subspecies coturniculus is very local in south-west USA, irregularly to north-west Mexico (one recent record). The race murivagans occurs at few coastal marshes in central Peru. The race salinasi is rare and local in south Peru to central Chile and adjacent parts of west-central Argentina. It may occur in the Colombian East Andes. In USA, most populations declined drastically in the 20^th century and the breeding range has seriously contracted.

Conservation Actions Underway

The species occurs in a number of protected areas. Habitat restoration and creation for coturniculus is ongoing as part of projects including the Lower Colorado River Multi-species Habitat Conservation Program and South Bay Salt Ponds Restoration Project (LCRMSCP 2004, Nadeau and Conway 2015). The species is included in the North American Marsh Bird Monitoring Protocol (Conway 2011). South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has implemented a monitoring program. A Black Rail Working Group has been established to aid in the protection of subspecies jamaicensis. A recovery plan for this subspecies is also being developed (USFWS 2019) and jamaicensis was proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act in the U.S.A. in October 2018. The Atlantic Coast Joint Venture (ACJV) have recently developed objectives to stabilise, and then increase populations of jamaicensis throughout the Atlantic coast states, USA (ACJV 2020).

Conservation Actions Proposed

Assess the population size, particularly of the subspecies jamaicensis in unassessed regions, and murivagans and salinasi in western South America. Monitor the population trend. Monitor the availability and quality of habitat. Conserve wetland habitats within its range. Manage retreat at coastal sites so they continue to support the species in the face of sea level rise and increased storm frequency. Take the species's needs into account when managing potentially suitable impounded tidal marshes (Roach and Barrett 2015), possibly through the use of water control structures to maintain appropriate water depth and dredge spoil to provide higher nesting sites (ACJV 2020). Control invasive plants and woody encroachment, possibly through prescribed fire (ACJV 2020). Protect threatened subpopulations.