Golden-Cheeked Warbler Status Review Suggests Down listing from Endangered to Threatened

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced the completion of a comprehensive five-year status review of the golden-cheeked warbler, recommending the bird be down listed from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This review assesses current scientific and commercial data to ensure classifications under the ESA are accurate and up-to-date.

The meticulous review involved input from scientific experts and a rigorous independent peer and technical review by federal, state, and local partners, as well as academic researchers. The recommendation to down list the species will be submitted to the Secretary of the Interior, who will decide whether to publish a proposed down listing rule in the Federal Register, opening it for public review and comment.

The status review revealed that while the golden-cheeked warbler is not currently at risk of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range, it faces potential extinction in the foreseeable future. This distinction qualifies it for a reclassification from endangered to threatened.

Ongoing research and habitat conservation have significantly contributed to understanding the species and its habitat conditions. However, the golden-cheeked warbler continues to face threats from urbanization, drought, and wildfires, which are expected to persist. Consequently, although the review recommends down listing, the species remains endangered for now.

The golden-cheeked warbler, known for its distinctive yellow cheeks and black and white plumage, feeds primarily on insects found in the tree canopy. It nests exclusively in the mature juniper-oak woodlands of central Texas during its breeding season before migrating to the pine-oak forests in the highlands of southern Mexico and Central America for the winter.

Listed as endangered in 1990, the golden-cheeked warbler has benefited from a recovery plan initiated in 1992 and the establishment of the Balcones Canyonlands National Wildlife Refuge, aimed at protecting its habitat. Recent legal developments have prompted the Service to reevaluate information found within a petition to delist the species, with new findings expected in early 2025.

The collaborative efforts to protect the golden-cheeked warbler’s habitat and migratory range have been promising and will continue regardless of any change in its federal listing status. Should the down listing proposal be approved, the Service will publish a proposed rule and seek input from various stakeholders, ensuring transparency and scientific rigor in decision-making.

For further details, the five-year status review for the golden-cheeked warbler can be found here.