• Summary
• Text account
• Data table and detailed info
• Distribution map
• Reference and further resources

Taxonomic note

Setophaga flavescens (del Hoyo and Collar 2016) was previously placed in the genus Dendroica following AOU (1998 & supplements).

 

Taxonomic source(s)
AOU. 1998. Check-list of North American birds. American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A., Fishpool, L.D.C., Boesman, P. and Kirwan, G.M. 2016. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 2: Passerines. Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

Red List criteria met

Critically Endangered	Endangered	Vulnerable
-	C2a(ii)	C2a(i,ii); D1

Red List history

Year	Category	Criteria
2020	Endangered	C2a(ii)
2017	Near Threatened	B1ab(ii,iii,v); C2a(i)
2016	Near Threatened	B1ab(ii,iii,v); C2a(i)
2013	Near Threatened	B1ab(ii,iii,v); C2a(i)
2012	Near Threatened	B1ab(ii,iii,v);C2a(i)
2008	Not Recognised
2004	Not Recognised
2000	Not Recognised
1994	Not Recognised
1988	Not Recognised

Migratory status	not a migrant	Forest dependency	medium
Land-mass type		Average mass	-

	Estimate	Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident)	13,800 km2	medium
Severely fragmented?	no	-

	Estimate	Data quality	Derivation	Year of estimate
Population size	500-1200 mature individuals	medium	estimated	2020
Population trend	decreasing	-	inferred	2011-2022
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	10-15%	-	-	-
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	10-15%	-	-	-
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods)	10-15%	-	-	-
Generation length	2 years	-	-	-
Number of subpopulations	2	-	-	-
Percentage of mature individuals in largest subpopulation	95-99%	-	-	-

Population justification: The remaining pine forest on Abaco and Grand Bahama islands has been estimated between c.360 km² (Tracewski et al. 2016) and c.500 km² (Global Forest Watch 2020). However, following Hurricane Dorian, potential remaining habitat is thought to be lower at 227-455 km² on Abaco, and only 5-23 km² on Grand Bahama (measured as the extent of non-catastrophically impacted forests remaining; B. Watson, G. Wallace, W. Hayes, and S. Johnson in litt. 2020). The most recent information of population density for the Bahama Warbler, obtained during a survey in 2007, reports 3.6 individuals/km² on Grand Bahama Island (Lloyd and Slater 2011). This value, however, does not account for non-territorial males and assumes a 1:1 sex ratio (J. Lloyd in litt. 2011). Nevertheless, in the absence of further information, the population density on both islands is tentatively assumed to be 3.6 individuals/km². Taking into account both remaining habitat following Hurricane Dorian and recent density estimates therefore suggests that 817-1,638 individuals are on Abaco (representing 95% of the population) and 18-83 individuals are on Grand Bahama (B. Watson, G. Wallace, W. Hayes, and S. Johnson in litt. 2020); assumed to form two subpopulations. The overall population therefore numbers 835-1721 individuals, converted to 557-1147 mature individuals and placed in the band of 500-1,200 mature individuals.

Trend justification: The population is inferred to be in decline due to loss and fragmentation of its habitat. There is evidence that the species declined by around 30% between 1969 and 2007 on Grand Bahama (J. Lloyd in litt. 2011). According to remote-sensed data on tree cover loss, an estimated 2.4-6.3% of forest was lost within the species's range over ten years to 2019 (Tracewski et al. 2016, Global Forest Watch 2020). However, following landfall of Hurricane Dorian in September 2019, which caused extensive damage to both Abaco and Grand Bahama's pine forests that was not included in the remote-sensed data, overall forest loss over the past decade is likely to now have been higher (B. Watson, G. Wallace, W. Hayes, and S. Johnson in litt. 2020). It is therefore assumed here that forest loss will likely have been at least 10% or potentially higher in the past and over the next 10 years. The species is additionally thought to now be largely confined to Abaco (representing over 95% of the population). Thus, the overall population is suspected to be undergoing a decline that is placed here in the band of 10-15% decline over 10 years.

Country/Territory	Presence	Origin	Resident	Breeding visitor	Non-breeding visitor	Passage migrant
Bahamas	extant	native	yes

Country/Territory	IBA Name

Habitat (level 1)	Habitat (level 2)	Importance	Occurrence
Forest	Subtropical/Tropical Moist Lowland	major	resident
Altitude		Occasional altitudinal limits

Threat (level 1)	Threat (level 2)	Impact and Stresses
Biological resource use	Logging & wood harvesting - Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest]	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Future		Majority (50-90%)		Rapid Declines		Low Impact: 5
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Climate change & severe weather	Storms & flooding	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Rapid Declines		Medium Impact: 7
		Stresses Species disturbance, Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion, Species mortality
Human intrusions & disturbance	Recreational activities	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 6
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Invasive and other problematic species, genes & diseases	Invasive non-native/alien species/diseases - Molothrus bonariensis	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Minority (<50%)		Causing/Could cause fluctuations		Low Impact: 5
		Stresses Species mortality
Natural system modifications	Fire & fire suppression - Increase in fire frequency/intensity	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 6
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion, Species mortality
Residential & commercial development	Housing & urban areas	Timing		Scope		Severity		Impact
		Ongoing		Majority (50-90%)		Slow, Significant Declines		Medium Impact: 6
		Stresses Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion

Purpose	Scale
Pets/display animals, horticulture	international

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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Bahama Warbler Setophaga flavescens. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/bahama-warbler-setophaga-flavescens on 22/12/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/12/2024.