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10 Most Endangered Birds in the U.S. and Where to Find Them

Florida Scrub-Jay
Florida Scrub-Jay

Throughout the United States, there are around 1,267 bird species. Of these species around 89 of them are threatened or endangered. It may seem like a small number compared to the total amount of species, but this is a lot. These 89 species may not see 2027. The following birds are within the top 10 endangered species. I’ll let you know where to find them so that we can know what these beauties look like and where to keep an eye out for them.

Piping Plover

Piping Plover
Piping Plover. Image by Russ, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

This adorable little bird grows up to around 7in/17cm, with a wing span of 15in/38cm. Generally found on coastlines from North Carolina to Florida, they are now endangered due to coastal developments and their nesting grounds being disturbed. The Piping Plover has been a threatened species since 1985! Recovery plans were put in place and thankfully they are still around, although still an endangered species. With their global population now at 8,400, conservationists have put in place various plans to try and increase this number and avoid extinction. 

Gunnison Sage-Grouse

Gunnison Sage-Grouse
Gunnison Sage-Grouse. Image by Larry Lamsa, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Gunnison Sage-Grouse can only be found in Southwest Colorado and Northeast Utah. You can find them in the grassland areas, eating plants and nesting on the ground. Due to development, they are losing their habitat, causing them to become a threatened species with only about 5,000 of them left in the wild. When courting the ladies, the males puff up their chests, fan out their tails, and make a funny gurgling noise. I imagine this is how jelly would sound when it wobbles.

Florida Scrub-Jay

Florida Scrub-Jay
Florida Scrub-Jay. Image by Judy Gallagher, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Florida Scrub-Jay lives exclusively in Florida. They live and nest amongst the trees, foraging on the ground for an insect snack. Interestingly, these birds have a caring personality. Instead of leaving the nest fully, they stay and help their parents, later helping them with the brood of the following year. Less than 10,000 of these blue buddies are left in the wild due to habitat loss. As a threatened species they need our help!

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker

Red-Cockaded Woodpecker
Red-Cockaded Woodpecker. Image by Dominic Sherony, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Due to forest fires and development, they have lost the majority of their habitat throughout the Southeast open forests. Although they live, work, and raise their young together, they cannot fight the world together. They are only little birdies and they need our help. The Red-Cockaded Woodpecker has been on the endangered list since 1970, now a species of only 15,000.

Golden-Cheeked Warbler

Golden-Cheeked Warbler
Golden-Cheeked Warbler. Image by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Found in the hills of Texas, the Golden-Cheeked Warbler is a gorgeous woodland that was announced as endangered in 1990. These little birds have lost much of their habitat within the forests which have been cleared for development and farming, or demolished due to flooding. Fun fact: Their scientific name, Setophaga chrysoparia, translates to ‘crowned moth-eater’. 

California Condor

California Condor
California Condor. Image by Pacific Southwest Region from Sacramento, US, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The California Condor is part of the vulture and North America’s biggest land bird. They were put on the endangered list in 1967, and still are. Living in both the wild and captivity, they are fighting extinction. There are 347 left in the wild and 214 in captivity. We are the only predators to the adult California Condor, we should be protecting them.

Ashy Storm Petrel

California Condor
Ashy Storm Petrel. Image by Pacific Southwest Region USFWS from Sacramento, US, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

I love the Ashy Storm Petrel, they are so cute. Living on the coasts and shorelines of California, this endangered species is fighting extinction with a current population of 5100. The development and introduction of predators, such as rodents, have had an impact on the population of this adorable species. The Ashy Storm Petrel is now a protected species, with plans put in place by conservationists.

Brown-Capped Rosy-Finch

Brown-Capped Rosy Finch
Brown-capped Rosy Finch. Image by dominic sherony, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Found across Colorado’s alpine and snowy areas, these ground foragers are most commonly seen in winter as they head down to the lower grounds in search of seeds. They can also be found in Wyoming and New Mexico. Now endangered due to climate change disturbing their habitat, these medium-sized brown and pink birds have been placed on the protection list. 

Saltmarsh Sparrow

Saltmarsh Sparrow
Salt Marsh Sparrow. Image by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Northeast Region, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Saltmarsh Sparrow can be found in the marshes of the Atlantic coast, migrating between Delaware and Florida during winter. They mostly hide away, but they can sometimes be seen hanging out on branches when singing some songs. With a population of 30,000, they are now an endangered species. Due to the rising sea levels and loss of habitat because of development, their numbers are quickly decreasing.

Marbled Murrelet

Marbled Murrelet
Marbled Murrelet. Image by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Headquarters, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Marbled Murrelet population has been steadily decreasing, monitored since 2000. The population now stands at 240,000. Sounds like a lot right? Sadly, this number should be a lot higher. The Marbled Murrelet heads off to the water for food, returning later to their nests in the forests. A lot of this habitat is being lost due to fires and timber harvest.

Conservation Efforts

Birds
Birds. Image by Tomere, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Over the years many animals have gone extinct. Now with so many endangered, we are trying to do all we can to protect and save these species. Laws, treaties, and conservation plans have been put in place for various species all around the world. As an individual, you may seem small, but your impact can be huge.