KIRTLAND'S WARBLER 



Dendroica kirtlandii (Baird) 



KINGDOM Animalia 



CLASS Aves 



ORDER Passeriformes 



FAMILY Parulidae 



OTHER COMMON 



NAMES Jack pine warbler 



DATE 



Entered into SWIS To be determined 



Updates 24 Oct 1977, 10 Jan. 1978 



LEGAL STATUS 



Federal Endangered (32 FR 4001, 11 Mar 

 1967; 35 FR 18320, 2 Dec 1970). 



States Endangered: Florida, Georgia, Michi- 



gjui, North Carolina, South Carolina. 



REASONS FOR CURRENT STATUS 



Small population size, restricted geographic 



distribution, and extremely narrow habitat re- 

 quirements are the major causes of this species' 

 precarious position. Prevention of fire and other 

 forest management practices have eliminated much 

 suitable breeding habitat. Nest parasitism by the 

 brown-headed cowbird [Molothrus ater) has also 

 contributed to past population declines. A pos- 

 sible, but as yet unknown, factor may be opera- 

 ting against Kirtland's warbler on the wintering 

 grounds in the Bahama Islands (KWRT 1976). 



PRIORITY INDEX 



Not assigned. 



DESCRIPTION 



The adult male has upper parts of bluish slate 

 gray, streaked with black, a black mask and white 

 eye ring, underparts dull yellow, sides streaked 

 with black, and fuscous wings without bars. The 

 adult female has upper parts bluish gray with fus- 

 cous streaks, underparts of pale yellow, and 

 fuscous speckling on the breast. It is large for a 

 warbler— 14 to 15 cm long, with a short, stout bill. 



