Minnesota Bird Species in Greatest Conservation Need

Common Name Scientific Name State Status Federal Status Rationale for listing
Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator Threatened   MN Threatened
American Black Duck Anas rubripes     Continental population declining, MN population low (<1,000) based on 1991-93 Black Duck Survey.
Northern Pintail Anas acuta     Continental population stable since 1985, but significant long-term decline dating to the 1950s; MN population low and declining since 1986.
Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis     Continental population declining since 1985 and long-term (Lesser and Greater combined), MN population stable but survey poorly timed for breeding scaup.
Spruce Grouse Falcipennis canadensis     Not well monitored by BBS, on USFS sensitive species list, vulnerable habitat, not much known about population trends, however.
Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus     Populations well below the range of natural variation in Minnesota. Was historically the dominant prairie Galliform.
Greater Prairie-Chicken Tympanuchus cupido Special Concern   MN Special Concern
Common Loon Gavia immer     High priority in several Bird Conservation Regions of Waterbird plans
Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus Threatened   MN Threatened, Moderate concern in several Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) of Waterbird Plans
Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena     High and medium priority in Waterbird Plans, uncommon, wetland habitat declining. Threatened in WI.
Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis     Moderate concern in the Prairie Pothole (BCR 11) Waterbird plan
Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis     Declining MN population, with only 4 nesting colonies. Declining habitat. Been several nesting failures. Tracked in MN DNR Heritage database.
American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Special Concern   MN Special Concern
American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus     High priority in all Bird Conservation Regions of Waterbird plans
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis     Moderate priority in all Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) of Waterbird plan
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax     Med to high priority in Waterbird plans
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Special Concern Threatened Federally Threatened, MN Special Concern
Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus     High Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 2) in several Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs)
Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis     On USFS sensitive species list - vulnerable habitat (large patches of mature forest), may be regionally declining, tracked by MN DNR Heritage.
Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus Special Concern   MN Special Concern
Swainson's Hawk Buteo swainsoni     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Threatened   MN Threatened
Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis Special Concern   MN Special Concern, High priority in several BCRs of Waterbird Plans
King Rail Rallus elegans Endangered   MN Endangered
Virginia Rail Rallus limicola     Moderate concern in the Prairie Pothole (BCR 11) Waterbird plan
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Special Concern   MN Special Concern, Moderate concern in several BCRs of Waterbird Plans
American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica     High Priority (4) in the Prairie Pothole (BCR11) Shorebird Plan
Piping Plover Charadrius melodus Endangered Endangered Fedrally endangered in Great Lakes watershed, federally threatened elsewhere. MN Endangered
American Avocet Recurvirostra americana     High Priority (4) in the Prairie Pothole (BCR11) Shorebird Plan
Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca     High Priority (4) in several Bird Conservation Regions of Shorebird Plans
Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda     High Priority (4) in all Bird Conservation Regions of Shorebird Plans
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus     High Priority (4) in all Bird Conservation Regions of Shorebird Plans
Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica     High Priority (4) in the Prairie Pothole (BCR11) Shorebird Plan
Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa Special Concern   MN Special Concern, Priority 4 on all BCRs of Shorebird plans.
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres     High Priority (4) in the Prairie Pothole (BCR11) Shorebird Plan
Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla     High Priority (4) in the Prairie Pothole (BCR11) Shorebird Plan
White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis     High Priority (4) in the Prairie Pothole (BCR11) Shorebird Plan
Dunlin Calidris alpina     High Priority (4) in the Prairie Pothole (BCR11) Shorebird Plan
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis     High priority (4) in all Bird Conservation Regions of Shorebird Plans
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus     High Priority (4) in several Bird Conservation Regions of Shorebird Plans
American Woodcock Scolopax minor     High Priority (4) in all Bird Conservation Regions of Shorebird Plans
Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Threatened   MN Threatened, High Priority (4) in all Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) of Shorebird Plans
Franklin's Gull Larus pipixcan Special Concern   MN Special Concern
Black Tern Chlidonias niger     High priority in all Bird Conservation Regions Waterbird plans
Common Tern Sterna hirundo Threatened   MN Threatened, High priority in all Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) of Waterbird plans
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri Special Concern   MN Special Concern
Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus     Highest Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 1) in several Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs)
Burrowing Owl Speotyto cunicularia Endangered   MN Endangered
Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Special Concern   MN Special Concern
Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus     Meets several criteria - declining habitat, rare and declining in MN, not adequately surveyed by breeding bird survey, tracked by MN DNR heritage.
Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor     Not well monitored by breeding bird surveys. Declining populations, insectivore and aerial feeder - special resource needs.
Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus     Not well monitored by breeding bird surveys. Declining populations, insectivore and aerial feeder - special resource needs. Id'd on USFWS reg. 3 concern list.
Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius     High Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 2A ) in the Boreal Hardwood Transition plan (BCR12). Also significant regional declines in NRRI Forest Brid Monitoring.
Black-backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus     High Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 2C ) in the Boreal Hardwood Transition plan (BCR12). Range more extensive in MN than N 3-toed woodpecker and also has high regional threats (habitat needs of large burned areas).
Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist
Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens     High Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 2A ) in the Boreal Hardwood Transition plan (BCR12). Also shows one of the most significant declines in the NRRI forest bird monitoring.
Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens Special Concern   MN Special Concern
Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist
Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus     High Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 2A ) in the Boreal Hardwood Transition plan (BCR12)
Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus Threatened   MN Threatened
Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist, Tracked in MN heritage database
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis     High Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 2) in several Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs)
Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonica     Suggested addition by feedback team. Sharp continental population decline (PIF=5), threatened habitat.
Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes     Highly significant population declines in NRRI Forest Bird Monitoring.
Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis     Highest Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 1) in several Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs)
Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris     High Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 2) in several Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs)
Veery Catharus fuscescens     Highest Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 1) in the Boreal Hardwood Transition plan (BCR12)
Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist
Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum     Highest Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 2A) in several Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs)
Sprague's Pipit Anthus spragueii Endangered   MN Endangered
Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist
Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist
Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina     Highest Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 1) in the Boreal Hardwood Transition plan (BCR12)
Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens     Highest Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 1) in the Boreal Hardwood Transition plan (BCR12)
Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist
Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea Special Concern   MN Special Concern
Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist
Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus     While does not meet PIF priority (2B), the NRRI Forest Bird monitoring shows highly significant regional declines. Also vulnerable habitat (forest interior).
Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla Special Concern   MN Special Concern
Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis     Highest Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 1) in the Boreal Hardwood Transition plan (BCR12)
Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina Special Concern   MN Special Concern
Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist
Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla     Highest Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 1) in several Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). Significant population declines.
Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum     High Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 2) in several Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs)
Baird's Sparrow Ammodramus bairdii Endangered   MN Endangered
Henslow's Sparrow Ammodramus henslowii Endangered   MN Endangered
Le Conte's Sparrow Ammodramus leconteii     Highest Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 1) in the Boreal Hardwood Transition plan (BCR12).
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow Ammodramus nelsoni Special Concern   MN Special Concern
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana     High Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 2A ) in the Prairie Hardwood Transition plan (BCR 23). Partners in Flight shows rangewide declines and also a continental stewardship species.
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis     Suggested addition. Highly significant regional population declines in NRRI Forest Bird Monitoring.
Chestnut-collared Longspur Calcarius ornatus Endangered   MN Endangered
Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus     High Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 2A ) in the Boreal Hardwood Transition plan (BCR12) and also significant regional declines indicated in NRRI Forest Bird monitoring.
Dickcissel Spiza americana     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist
Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus     Highest Partners in Flight Priority (PIF 1) in several Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs)
Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna     On USFWS Region 3 concern list. Suggested addition. Precipitous continental population decline, habitat inperiled.
Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus     Partners in Flight Continental Watchlist

Criteria for adding species to the set of Minnesota Species in Greatest Conservation Need:

a. Species identified on formal lists:

¥ species listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act.

¥ MinnesotaÕs List of Endangered, Threatened, or Special Concern species

¥ Partners in Flight (PIF) Continental Watch List bird species that breed in Minnesota.

¥ Partners in Flight (PIF) Landbird Regional Plans: Tier 1, 2A, and 2C species in at least one of Physiographic areas 16, 20, 32, and 40 and breed in Minnesota. (PA32 covers only a small portion of Minnesota and species were individually reviewed to determine if they meet the SGCN definition for Minnesota).

¥ Regional Shorebird Conservation Plans: Species identified as Highly Imperiled (5) or High Concern (4) in at least one of bird conservation regions (BCR) 11, 12, 22, 23, and either breed or are significant migrants in Minnesota.

¥ Minnesota Waterbird Conservation Plan: species identified as high or moderate concern in at least one of bird conservation regions (BCR) 11, 12, 22, 23 and breed in Minnesota.

¥ NRRI Breeding Bird Monitoring: Bird species showing significant (P ² 0.05) declines in all 4 sample areas (Superior, Chippewa, Chequamegon/Nicolet National Forests and the St. Croix Region of E. Central MN) as well as overall regionally, and are supported by corroborative information from other regional surveys (e.g. PIF regional or continental plans).

b. Species, other than those on the above lists, identified through an expert review process to meet the CWCS Species in Greatest Conservation Need definition.

For more information on the lists, please see the following websites:

-Federal Endangered Species Act: http://endangered.fws.gov/

-Minnesota Endangered, Threatened & Special Concern Species: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/ets/index.html

-Partners in Flight Regional Landbird Plans: http://www.blm.gov/wildlife/pifplans.htm

-Waterbird Conservation Plan: http://www.waterbirdconservation.org/

-US Fish and Wildlife Service Region 3 Resource Conservation Priorities: http://midwest.fws.gov/Endangered/lists/concern.html

-U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan: http://shorebirdplan.fws.gov/

-NRRI Breeding Bird Monitoring:Ê HYPERLINK "http://www.nrri.umn.edu/mnbirds/default.htm" http://www.nrri.umn.edu/mnbirds/default.htm

Material adapted from: Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2006.




Return to M.O.U. Home Page