BACHMAN'S WARBLER

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Vermivora bachmanii

Federal status: Endangered (March 11, 1967; December 2, 1970)
State status: Endangered (December 1989)

Description: Small warbler with relatively long slightly decurved bill. Adult males with bright yellow forehead, chin, belly, and bend of wing; white undertail coverts; crown and chest black;back of head and neck gray: olive green above. Females and immature males similar but less colorful; often lack black on head and chest. Total length is 10.9-11.5 cm (4.25-4.5 in). One of the least-known North American birds. Arrives on the nesting grounds as early as late February and returns to the wintering areas in July and August. Although it tends to spend much of its time high up in trees, all nests reported have been in understory shrubs and thickets. Only about 40 nests have been recorded; females apparently lay 3-5 eggs.

Habitat: Bottomland hardwood forest, and cypress swamp on the breeding grounds. Some evidence exists that this species was closely associated with canebrakes and small forest openings.

Distribution: Formerly nested throughout the Southeastern U. S. and wintered in Cuba and possibly other Caribbean islands. Nearly extinct but there have been a few recent sightings in the U. S. (most recently in Northeast Louisiana) and Cuba. No confirmed U. S. nesting since the mid-1960's, although several sightings of the species have occurred on wintering grounds during the last decade. May be extirpated in Louisiana.

Reasons for decline: Habitat loss on the breeding and wintering grounds is most often cited as the reasons for the decline. Several people have suggested that this species was very specialized in its food and habitat requirements so that it was vulnerable to minor changes in habitat. Severe hurricanes on the wintering grounds may also have been an important limiting factor.

March 2004

Conservation efforts: The most important efforts underway are surveys to document surviving individuals of this species. Habitat management on both the breeding and wintering grounds has been undertaken.