BIRDS AND CLIMATE CHANGE Big Bend National Park
BIRDS AND CLIMATE CHANGE Big Bend National Park Background Birds are useful indicators of ecological change because they are highly mobile and generally conspicuous. As climate in a particular place changes, suitability may worsen for some species and improve for others. These changes in climate may create the potential for local extirpation or new colonization. This brief summarizes projected changes in climate suitability by mid-century for birds at Big Bend National Park (hereafter, the Park) under two climate change scenarios (see Wu et al. 2018 for full results, and Langham et al. 2015 for more information regarding how climate suitability is characterized). The high-emissions pathway (RCP8.5) represents a future in which little action is taken to reduce global emissions of greenhouse gases. The low-emissions pathway (RCP2.6) is a best-case scenario of aggressive efforts to reduce emissions. These emissions pathways are globally standardized and established by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for projecting future climate change. The findings below are model-based projections of how species distributions may change in response to climate change. A 10-km buffer was applied to each park to match the spatial resolution of the species distribution models (10 x 10 km), and climate suitability was taken as the average of all cells encompassed by the park and buffer.
Important This study focuses exclusively on changing climatic conditions for birds over time. But projected changes in climate suitability are not definitive predictions of future species ranges or abundances. Numerous other factors affect where species occur, including habitat quality, food abundance, species adaptability, and the availability of microclimates (see Caveats). Therefore, managers should consider changes in climate suitability alongside these other important influences. We report trends in climate suitability for all species identified as currently present at the Park based on both NPS Inventory & Monitoring Program data and eBird observation data (2016), plus those species for which climate at the Park is projected to become suitable in the future (Figure 1 & Table 1). This brief provides park-specific projections whereas Wu et al. (2018), which did not incorporate park-specific species data and thus may differ from this brief, provides system-wide comparison and conclusions.
Results Climate change is expected to alter the bird community at the Park, with greater impacts under the highemissions pathway than under the low-emissions pathway (Figure 1). Among the species likely to be found at the Park today, climate suitability in summer under the high-emissions pathway is projected to improve for 52, remain stable for 34 (e.g., Figure 2), and worsen for 19 species. Suitable climate ceases to occur for 12 species in summer, potentially resulting in extirpation of those species from the Park. Climate is projected to become suitable in summer for 11 species not found at the Park today, potentially resulting in local colonization. Climate suitability in winter under the high-emissions pathway is projected to improve for 55, remain stable for 57, and worsen for 30 species. Suitable climate ceases to occur for 21 species in winter, potentially resulting in extirpation from the Park. Climate is projected to become suitable in winter for 32 species not found at the Park today, potentially resulting in local colonization.
Figure 1. Projected changes in climate suitability for birds at the Park, by emissions pathway and season.
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 1 of 7
Results (continued) Potential Turnover Index Potential bird species turnover for the Park between the present and 2050 is 0.13 in summer (16 th percentile across all national parks) and 0.10 in winter (8 th percentile) under the high-emissions pathway. Potential species turnover declines to 0.09 in summer and 0.07 in winter under the low-emissions pathway. Turnover index was calculated based on the theoretical proportions of potential extirpations and potential colonizations by 2050 relative to today (as reported in Wu et al. 2018), and therefore assumes that all potential extirpations and colonizations are realized. According to this index, no change would be represented as 0, whereas a complete change in the bird community would be represented as 1. Climate Sensitive Species The Park is or may become home to 21 species that are highly sensitive to climate change across their range (i.e., they are projected to lose climate suitability in over 50% of their current range in North America in summer and/or winter by 2050; Table 1; Langham et al. 2015). Suitable
climate is not projected to disappear for these 21 species at the Park; instead the Park may serve as an important refuge for these climate-sensitive species.
Figure 2. Climate at the Park in summer is projected to remain suitable for the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) through 2050. Photo by Andy Morffew/Flickr (CC BY 2.0).
Management Implications Parks differ in potential colonization and extirpation rates, and therefore different climate change adaptation strategies may apply. Under the high-emissions pathway, Big Bend National Park falls within the low change group. Parks anticipating low change can best support landscape-scale bird conservation by emphasizing habitat restoration, maintaining natural disturbance regimes, and reducing other
stressors. Furthermore, park managers have an opportunity to focus on supporting the 21 species that are highly sensitive to climate change across their range (Table 1; Langham et al. 2015) but for which the park is a potential refuge. Monitoring to identify changes in bird communities will inform the selection of appropriate management responses.
Caveats The species distribution models included in this study are based solely on climate variables (i.e., a combination of annual and seasonal measures of temperature and precipitation), which means there are limits on their interpretation. Significant changes in climate suitability, as measured here, will not always result in a species response, and all projections should be interpreted as potential trends. Multiple other factors mediate responses to climate change, including habitat availability, ecological processes that affect
demography, biotic interactions that inhibit and facilitate species' colonization or extirpation, dispersal capacity, species' evolutionary adaptive capacity, and phenotypic plasticity (e.g., behavioral adjustments). Ultimately, models can tell us where to focus our concern and which species are most likely to be affected, but monitoring is the only way to validate these projections and should inform any on-theground conservation action.
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 2 of 7
More Information For more information, including details on the methods, please see the scientific publication (Wu et al. 2018) and the project overview brief, and visit the NPS Climate Change Response Program website.
References eBird Basic Dataset (2016) Version: ebd_relAug-2016. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Langham et al. (2015) Conservation Status of North American Birds in the Face of Future Climate Change. PLOS ONE.
Wu et al. (2018) Projected avifaunal responses to climate change across the U.S. National Park System. PLOS ONE.
Contacts Gregor Schuurman, Ph.D. Ecologist, NPS Climate Change Response Program 970-267-7211, [email protected] Joanna Wu Biologist, National Audubon Society 415-644-4610, [email protected]
Species Projections Table 1. Climate suitability projections by 2050 under the high-emissions pathway for all birds currently present at the Park based on both NPS Inventory & Monitoring Program data and eBird observation data, plus those species for which climate at the Park is projected to become suitable in the future. "Potential colonization" indicates that climate is projected to become suitable for the species, whereas "potential extirpation" indicates that climate is suitable today but projected to become unsuitable. Omitted species were either not modeled due to data deficiency or were absent from the I&M and eBird datasets. Observations of late-season migrants may result in these species appearing as present in the park when they may only migrate through. Species are ordered according to taxonomic groups, denoted by alternating background shading. * Species in top and bottom 10th percentile of absolute change ^ Species that are highly climate sensitive - Species not found or found only occasionally, and not projected to colonize by 2050 x Species not modeled in this season Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Muscovy Duck
-
Potential colonization
Red-breasted Merganser
-
Potential colonization^
Wood Duck
x
Potential extirpation
Ruddy Duck
Potential colonization
Improving*
Gadwall
-
Stable
Scaled Quail
Worsening*
Worsening*
American Wigeon
-
Stable
Northern Bobwhite (does not occur naturally)
-
Stable
Improving^
Stable
Montezuma Quail
x
Stable
Blue-winged Teal
-
Improving
Cinnamon Teal
x
Improving*
Wild Turkey
x
Potential extirpation
Northern Shoveler
-
Improving
Least Grebe
-
Stable
Green-winged Teal
-
Improving
Pied-billed Grebe
x
Worsening
Canvasback
-
Improving
Eared Grebe
-
Improving
Ring-necked Duck
-
Improving
Clark's Grebe
-
Lesser Scaup
-
Stable
Potential colonization
Bufflehead
-
Improving*
Double-crested Cormorant
-
Stable
Hooded Merganser
-
Stable^
Brown Pelican
-
Potential colonization^
Common Name
Mallard
Common Name
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 3 of 7
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
American Bittern
-
Improving^
Least Bittern
-
Improving
Great Blue Heron
Improving
Worsening
Great Egret
Improving
Improving
Cattle Egret
Improving
Improving*
Green Heron
Improving
Improving
Black-crowned Night-Heron
x
Improving*
White-faced Ibis
-
Improving^
Worsening
Worsening*
Common Name
Black Vulture Turkey Vulture
x
Stable
White-tailed Kite
-
Potential colonization
Potential colonization
-
Swallow-tailed Kite Golden Eagle Mississippi Kite
x
Stable
Potential extirpation
-
Northern Harrier
-
Improving
Sharp-shinned Hawk
x
Worsening
Cooper's Hawk
x
Stable
Improving*
Improving*
-
Potential extirpation
Gray Hawk
Stable
x
Swainson's Hawk
Stable^
-
Red-tailed Hawk
Stable
Worsening
Ferruginous Hawk
-
Stable
Clapper Rail
-
Potential colonization
Virginia Rail
-
Improving
Sora
-
Improving*
American Coot
x
Stable
Limpkin
-
Potential colonization
Black-bellied Plover
-
Potential colonization
-
Potential colonization
Harris's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
-
Potential colonization^
Improving*
Worsening
Spotted Sandpiper
-
Improving
Wandering Tattler
-
Potential colonization
Willet
-
Potential colonization^
Whimbrel
-
Potential colonization
Marbled Godwit
-
Potential colonization
Dunlin
-
Potential colonization^
Least Sandpiper
-
Improving*
Short-billed Dowitcher
-
Potential colonization^
Wilson's Snipe
-
Stable
Bonaparte's Gull
-
Potential colonization
Laughing Gull
-
Potential colonization
Ring-billed Gull
-
Stable
Western Gull
-
Potential colonization^
Yellow-footed Gull
-
Potential colonization
Royal Tern
-
Potential colonization^
Black Skimmer
-
Potential colonization^
Rock Pigeon
-
Stable
Improving
Stable
x
Stable
White-winged Dove
Improving*
Worsening
Mourning Dove
Worsening
Stable
Inca Dove
Improving
Improving
Common Ground-Dove
Improving
Improving
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Potential extirpation
-
Greater Roadrunner
Stable
Improving
Common Name Semipalmated Plover Killdeer
Band-tailed Pigeon Eurasian Collared-Dove
Wilson's Plover
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 4 of 7
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Barn Owl
x
Stable
Stable
Improving*
Western Screech-Owl
x
Improving
Cordilleran Flycatcher
Improving
-
Great Horned Owl
x
Potential extirpation
Black Phoebe
Improving
Improving
-
Potential colonization
-
Worsening*
Say's Phoebe
Worsening
Improving
Stable^
-
Vermilion Flycatcher
Worsening
Improving
Lesser Nighthawk
Improving*
-
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Improving
x
Common Nighthawk
Worsening*
-
Great Crested Flycatcher
-
Potential colonization
White-throated Swift
x
Improving*
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Improving*
-
Improving
x Great Kiskadee
Potential colonization
-
Couch's Kingbird
Stable
-
Common Name
Northern Pygmy-Owl Burrowing Owl
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Common Name Dusky Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Anna's Hummingbird
Potential colonization
Improving*
Costa's Hummingbird
Potential colonization
Improving*
Cassin's Kingbird
Stable
-
Stable
-
Western Kingbird
Improving
-
Allen's Hummingbird
-
Stable
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Worsening*
-
Belted Kingfisher
-
Stable
Loggerhead Shrike
Improving
Stable
Green Kingfisher
x
Worsening*
White-eyed Vireo
-
Stable
Improving
Stable
Bell's Vireo
Improving*
x
Stable
Worsening*
Hutton's Vireo
Improving^
Improving
-
Potential extirpation
Warbling Vireo
Improving
-
Red-eyed Vireo
Potential extirpation
-
Black-whiskered Vireo
Potential colonization
-
Green Jay
Potential colonization
Potential colonization
California/Woodhouse's ScrubJay (Western Scrub-Jay)
-
Potential extirpation
Mexican Jay
x
Stable
Improving
Stable
Common Raven
Stable
Potential extirpation
Horned Lark
Stable
Stable
Improving*
Improving*
-
Potential colonization
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Acorn Woodpecker Golden-fronted Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
-
Stable
Stable
Stable
-
Potential colonization
Northern Flicker
Improving
Worsening
American Kestrel
x
Improving
Merlin
-
Stable^
Peregrine Falcon
x
Improving*
Prairie Falcon
x
Improving*
Potential colonization
-
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Improving
-
Western Wood-Pewee
Improving^
-
Stable
-
Improving
Stable
Red-naped Sapsucker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Arizona Woodpecker
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Willow Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher
Chihuahuan Raven
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Tree Swallow
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 5 of 7
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Violet-green Swallow
Improving
Potential colonization
-
Potential extirpation
Barn Swallow
Potential extirpation
-
LeConte's Thrasher
Potential colonization
Potential colonization
Cliff Swallow
Improving
-
Crissal Thrasher
Improving*
Stable
Cave Swallow
Worsening
-
Sage Thrasher
-
Improving
Bridled Titmouse
Potential colonization
-
Northern Mockingbird
Worsening
Worsening
European Starling
Improving
Improving
Black-crested Titmouse
Worsening
x
American Pipit
-
Improving
Verdin
Improving
Improving
Bushtit
Stable
Worsening
Cedar Waxwing
-
Potential extirpation
-
Potential extirpation
Stable
Improving*
Stable
Stable
Black-and-white Warbler
Potential extirpation
-
-
Potential extirpation
Orange-crowned Warbler
-
Stable
Improving*
-
Stable
Stable
MacGillivray's Warbler
Stable
-
Canyon Wren
x
Worsening*
Common Yellowthroat
Improving
Stable
House Wren
-
Improving
Marsh Wren
-
Stable
American Redstart
Potential extirpation
-
Carolina Wren
Potential extirpation
Potential extirpation
-
Improving
Stable
Worsening
Bewick's Wren
Stable
Worsening*
Black-throated Gray Warbler
-
Improving
Cactus Wren
Stable
Improving
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Stable
Improving
Hermit Warbler
-
Potential colonization^
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Improving*
Improving*
Stable
Improving
Golden-crowned Kinglet
-
Stable
Red-faced Warbler
Improving
-
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
-
Stable
Yellow-breasted Chat
Stable
-
Eastern Bluebird
-
Potential extirpation
Green-tailed Towhee
Improving^
Stable
Spotted Towhee
Improving
x
Western Bluebird
Improving
Stable
x
Worsening*
Mountain Bluebird
-
Stable
Canyon Towhee
Stable
Worsening*
Townsend's Solitaire
-
Stable
Cassin's Sparrow
Worsening*
Stable
Stable
Stable
Potential extirpation
Potential extirpation
Chipping Sparrow
Potential extirpation
Worsening
Brewer's Sparrow
-
Improving*
-
Improving
Improving
Improving
Field Sparrow
-
Potential extirpation
Common Name
Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Rock Wren
Hermit Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Curve-billed Thrasher
Common Name Brown Thrasher
Phainopepla
Lucy's Warbler
Northern Parula Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 6 of 7
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Black-chinned Sparrow
x
Stable
Vesper Sparrow
-
Worsening
Lark Sparrow
Worsening*
Stable
Black-throated Sparrow
Worsening*
Improving
Common Name
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Painted Bunting
Worsening*
-
Dickcissel
Potential extirpation
-
Red-winged Blackbird
Improving*
Worsening
Tricolored Blackbird
Potential colonization
-
Eastern Meadowlark
Improving
Stable
Western Meadowlark
Improving
Stable
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Improving
x
Brewer's Blackbird
-
Worsening*
Great-tailed Grackle
Improving*
Stable
Stable
-
Brown-headed Cowbird
Improving
Worsening
Common Name
Sagebrush/Bell's Sparrow (Sage Sparrow)
-
Improving
Lark Bunting
-
Stable
Savannah Sparrow
-
Worsening
Grasshopper Sparrow
-
Stable
Fox Sparrow
-
Potential extirpation
Song Sparrow
-
Potential extirpation
Lincoln's Sparrow
-
Worsening
Swamp Sparrow
-
Stable
Orchard Oriole
Potential extirpation
-
White-throated Sparrow
-
Potential extirpation
Hooded Oriole
Stable
-
White-crowned Sparrow
-
Stable
Bullock's Oriole
Improving*
-
Dark-eyed Junco
x
Stable
Altamira Oriole
-
Potential colonization
Hepatic Tanager
Improving
-
Worsening*
-
Summer Tanager
Worsening*
-
-
Western Tanager
Stable
-
Potential colonization^
Northern Cardinal
Stable
Worsening
Worsening*
Worsening
Worsening*
Worsening*
Improving
Potential extirpation
Black-headed Grosbeak
Improving
-
Stable
Worsening*
Blue Grosbeak
Worsening
-
Potential extirpation
Potential extirpation
x
Potential extirpation
Pyrrhuloxia
Bronzed Cowbird
Scott's Oriole Black Rosy-Finch House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch
Lazuli Bunting
Stable
-
Indigo Bunting
Stable
-
House Sparrow
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 7 of 7
Important This study focuses exclusively on changing climatic conditions for birds over time. But projected changes in climate suitability are not definitive predictions of future species ranges or abundances. Numerous other factors affect where species occur, including habitat quality, food abundance, species adaptability, and the availability of microclimates (see Caveats). Therefore, managers should consider changes in climate suitability alongside these other important influences. We report trends in climate suitability for all species identified as currently present at the Park based on both NPS Inventory & Monitoring Program data and eBird observation data (2016), plus those species for which climate at the Park is projected to become suitable in the future (Figure 1 & Table 1). This brief provides park-specific projections whereas Wu et al. (2018), which did not incorporate park-specific species data and thus may differ from this brief, provides system-wide comparison and conclusions.
Results Climate change is expected to alter the bird community at the Park, with greater impacts under the highemissions pathway than under the low-emissions pathway (Figure 1). Among the species likely to be found at the Park today, climate suitability in summer under the high-emissions pathway is projected to improve for 52, remain stable for 34 (e.g., Figure 2), and worsen for 19 species. Suitable climate ceases to occur for 12 species in summer, potentially resulting in extirpation of those species from the Park. Climate is projected to become suitable in summer for 11 species not found at the Park today, potentially resulting in local colonization. Climate suitability in winter under the high-emissions pathway is projected to improve for 55, remain stable for 57, and worsen for 30 species. Suitable climate ceases to occur for 21 species in winter, potentially resulting in extirpation from the Park. Climate is projected to become suitable in winter for 32 species not found at the Park today, potentially resulting in local colonization.
Figure 1. Projected changes in climate suitability for birds at the Park, by emissions pathway and season.
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 1 of 7
Results (continued) Potential Turnover Index Potential bird species turnover for the Park between the present and 2050 is 0.13 in summer (16 th percentile across all national parks) and 0.10 in winter (8 th percentile) under the high-emissions pathway. Potential species turnover declines to 0.09 in summer and 0.07 in winter under the low-emissions pathway. Turnover index was calculated based on the theoretical proportions of potential extirpations and potential colonizations by 2050 relative to today (as reported in Wu et al. 2018), and therefore assumes that all potential extirpations and colonizations are realized. According to this index, no change would be represented as 0, whereas a complete change in the bird community would be represented as 1. Climate Sensitive Species The Park is or may become home to 21 species that are highly sensitive to climate change across their range (i.e., they are projected to lose climate suitability in over 50% of their current range in North America in summer and/or winter by 2050; Table 1; Langham et al. 2015). Suitable
climate is not projected to disappear for these 21 species at the Park; instead the Park may serve as an important refuge for these climate-sensitive species.
Figure 2. Climate at the Park in summer is projected to remain suitable for the Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) through 2050. Photo by Andy Morffew/Flickr (CC BY 2.0).
Management Implications Parks differ in potential colonization and extirpation rates, and therefore different climate change adaptation strategies may apply. Under the high-emissions pathway, Big Bend National Park falls within the low change group. Parks anticipating low change can best support landscape-scale bird conservation by emphasizing habitat restoration, maintaining natural disturbance regimes, and reducing other
stressors. Furthermore, park managers have an opportunity to focus on supporting the 21 species that are highly sensitive to climate change across their range (Table 1; Langham et al. 2015) but for which the park is a potential refuge. Monitoring to identify changes in bird communities will inform the selection of appropriate management responses.
Caveats The species distribution models included in this study are based solely on climate variables (i.e., a combination of annual and seasonal measures of temperature and precipitation), which means there are limits on their interpretation. Significant changes in climate suitability, as measured here, will not always result in a species response, and all projections should be interpreted as potential trends. Multiple other factors mediate responses to climate change, including habitat availability, ecological processes that affect
demography, biotic interactions that inhibit and facilitate species' colonization or extirpation, dispersal capacity, species' evolutionary adaptive capacity, and phenotypic plasticity (e.g., behavioral adjustments). Ultimately, models can tell us where to focus our concern and which species are most likely to be affected, but monitoring is the only way to validate these projections and should inform any on-theground conservation action.
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 2 of 7
More Information For more information, including details on the methods, please see the scientific publication (Wu et al. 2018) and the project overview brief, and visit the NPS Climate Change Response Program website.
References eBird Basic Dataset (2016) Version: ebd_relAug-2016. Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Langham et al. (2015) Conservation Status of North American Birds in the Face of Future Climate Change. PLOS ONE.
Wu et al. (2018) Projected avifaunal responses to climate change across the U.S. National Park System. PLOS ONE.
Contacts Gregor Schuurman, Ph.D. Ecologist, NPS Climate Change Response Program 970-267-7211, [email protected] Joanna Wu Biologist, National Audubon Society 415-644-4610, [email protected]
Species Projections Table 1. Climate suitability projections by 2050 under the high-emissions pathway for all birds currently present at the Park based on both NPS Inventory & Monitoring Program data and eBird observation data, plus those species for which climate at the Park is projected to become suitable in the future. "Potential colonization" indicates that climate is projected to become suitable for the species, whereas "potential extirpation" indicates that climate is suitable today but projected to become unsuitable. Omitted species were either not modeled due to data deficiency or were absent from the I&M and eBird datasets. Observations of late-season migrants may result in these species appearing as present in the park when they may only migrate through. Species are ordered according to taxonomic groups, denoted by alternating background shading. * Species in top and bottom 10th percentile of absolute change ^ Species that are highly climate sensitive - Species not found or found only occasionally, and not projected to colonize by 2050 x Species not modeled in this season Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Muscovy Duck
-
Potential colonization
Red-breasted Merganser
-
Potential colonization^
Wood Duck
x
Potential extirpation
Ruddy Duck
Potential colonization
Improving*
Gadwall
-
Stable
Scaled Quail
Worsening*
Worsening*
American Wigeon
-
Stable
Northern Bobwhite (does not occur naturally)
-
Stable
Improving^
Stable
Montezuma Quail
x
Stable
Blue-winged Teal
-
Improving
Cinnamon Teal
x
Improving*
Wild Turkey
x
Potential extirpation
Northern Shoveler
-
Improving
Least Grebe
-
Stable
Green-winged Teal
-
Improving
Pied-billed Grebe
x
Worsening
Canvasback
-
Improving
Eared Grebe
-
Improving
Ring-necked Duck
-
Improving
Clark's Grebe
-
Lesser Scaup
-
Stable
Potential colonization
Bufflehead
-
Improving*
Double-crested Cormorant
-
Stable
Hooded Merganser
-
Stable^
Brown Pelican
-
Potential colonization^
Common Name
Mallard
Common Name
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 3 of 7
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
American Bittern
-
Improving^
Least Bittern
-
Improving
Great Blue Heron
Improving
Worsening
Great Egret
Improving
Improving
Cattle Egret
Improving
Improving*
Green Heron
Improving
Improving
Black-crowned Night-Heron
x
Improving*
White-faced Ibis
-
Improving^
Worsening
Worsening*
Common Name
Black Vulture Turkey Vulture
x
Stable
White-tailed Kite
-
Potential colonization
Potential colonization
-
Swallow-tailed Kite Golden Eagle Mississippi Kite
x
Stable
Potential extirpation
-
Northern Harrier
-
Improving
Sharp-shinned Hawk
x
Worsening
Cooper's Hawk
x
Stable
Improving*
Improving*
-
Potential extirpation
Gray Hawk
Stable
x
Swainson's Hawk
Stable^
-
Red-tailed Hawk
Stable
Worsening
Ferruginous Hawk
-
Stable
Clapper Rail
-
Potential colonization
Virginia Rail
-
Improving
Sora
-
Improving*
American Coot
x
Stable
Limpkin
-
Potential colonization
Black-bellied Plover
-
Potential colonization
-
Potential colonization
Harris's Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
-
Potential colonization^
Improving*
Worsening
Spotted Sandpiper
-
Improving
Wandering Tattler
-
Potential colonization
Willet
-
Potential colonization^
Whimbrel
-
Potential colonization
Marbled Godwit
-
Potential colonization
Dunlin
-
Potential colonization^
Least Sandpiper
-
Improving*
Short-billed Dowitcher
-
Potential colonization^
Wilson's Snipe
-
Stable
Bonaparte's Gull
-
Potential colonization
Laughing Gull
-
Potential colonization
Ring-billed Gull
-
Stable
Western Gull
-
Potential colonization^
Yellow-footed Gull
-
Potential colonization
Royal Tern
-
Potential colonization^
Black Skimmer
-
Potential colonization^
Rock Pigeon
-
Stable
Improving
Stable
x
Stable
White-winged Dove
Improving*
Worsening
Mourning Dove
Worsening
Stable
Inca Dove
Improving
Improving
Common Ground-Dove
Improving
Improving
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Potential extirpation
-
Greater Roadrunner
Stable
Improving
Common Name Semipalmated Plover Killdeer
Band-tailed Pigeon Eurasian Collared-Dove
Wilson's Plover
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 4 of 7
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Barn Owl
x
Stable
Stable
Improving*
Western Screech-Owl
x
Improving
Cordilleran Flycatcher
Improving
-
Great Horned Owl
x
Potential extirpation
Black Phoebe
Improving
Improving
-
Potential colonization
-
Worsening*
Say's Phoebe
Worsening
Improving
Stable^
-
Vermilion Flycatcher
Worsening
Improving
Lesser Nighthawk
Improving*
-
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Improving
x
Common Nighthawk
Worsening*
-
Great Crested Flycatcher
-
Potential colonization
White-throated Swift
x
Improving*
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Improving*
-
Improving
x Great Kiskadee
Potential colonization
-
Couch's Kingbird
Stable
-
Common Name
Northern Pygmy-Owl Burrowing Owl
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Common Name Dusky Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Anna's Hummingbird
Potential colonization
Improving*
Costa's Hummingbird
Potential colonization
Improving*
Cassin's Kingbird
Stable
-
Stable
-
Western Kingbird
Improving
-
Allen's Hummingbird
-
Stable
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Worsening*
-
Belted Kingfisher
-
Stable
Loggerhead Shrike
Improving
Stable
Green Kingfisher
x
Worsening*
White-eyed Vireo
-
Stable
Improving
Stable
Bell's Vireo
Improving*
x
Stable
Worsening*
Hutton's Vireo
Improving^
Improving
-
Potential extirpation
Warbling Vireo
Improving
-
Red-eyed Vireo
Potential extirpation
-
Black-whiskered Vireo
Potential colonization
-
Green Jay
Potential colonization
Potential colonization
California/Woodhouse's ScrubJay (Western Scrub-Jay)
-
Potential extirpation
Mexican Jay
x
Stable
Improving
Stable
Common Raven
Stable
Potential extirpation
Horned Lark
Stable
Stable
Improving*
Improving*
-
Potential colonization
Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Acorn Woodpecker Golden-fronted Woodpecker Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
-
Stable
Stable
Stable
-
Potential colonization
Northern Flicker
Improving
Worsening
American Kestrel
x
Improving
Merlin
-
Stable^
Peregrine Falcon
x
Improving*
Prairie Falcon
x
Improving*
Potential colonization
-
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Improving
-
Western Wood-Pewee
Improving^
-
Stable
-
Improving
Stable
Red-naped Sapsucker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Arizona Woodpecker
Northern Beardless-Tyrannulet
Willow Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher
Chihuahuan Raven
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Tree Swallow
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 5 of 7
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Violet-green Swallow
Improving
Potential colonization
-
Potential extirpation
Barn Swallow
Potential extirpation
-
LeConte's Thrasher
Potential colonization
Potential colonization
Cliff Swallow
Improving
-
Crissal Thrasher
Improving*
Stable
Cave Swallow
Worsening
-
Sage Thrasher
-
Improving
Bridled Titmouse
Potential colonization
-
Northern Mockingbird
Worsening
Worsening
European Starling
Improving
Improving
Black-crested Titmouse
Worsening
x
American Pipit
-
Improving
Verdin
Improving
Improving
Bushtit
Stable
Worsening
Cedar Waxwing
-
Potential extirpation
-
Potential extirpation
Stable
Improving*
Stable
Stable
Black-and-white Warbler
Potential extirpation
-
-
Potential extirpation
Orange-crowned Warbler
-
Stable
Improving*
-
Stable
Stable
MacGillivray's Warbler
Stable
-
Canyon Wren
x
Worsening*
Common Yellowthroat
Improving
Stable
House Wren
-
Improving
Marsh Wren
-
Stable
American Redstart
Potential extirpation
-
Carolina Wren
Potential extirpation
Potential extirpation
-
Improving
Stable
Worsening
Bewick's Wren
Stable
Worsening*
Black-throated Gray Warbler
-
Improving
Cactus Wren
Stable
Improving
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Stable
Improving
Hermit Warbler
-
Potential colonization^
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Improving*
Improving*
Stable
Improving
Golden-crowned Kinglet
-
Stable
Red-faced Warbler
Improving
-
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
-
Stable
Yellow-breasted Chat
Stable
-
Eastern Bluebird
-
Potential extirpation
Green-tailed Towhee
Improving^
Stable
Spotted Towhee
Improving
x
Western Bluebird
Improving
Stable
x
Worsening*
Mountain Bluebird
-
Stable
Canyon Towhee
Stable
Worsening*
Townsend's Solitaire
-
Stable
Cassin's Sparrow
Worsening*
Stable
Stable
Stable
Potential extirpation
Potential extirpation
Chipping Sparrow
Potential extirpation
Worsening
Brewer's Sparrow
-
Improving*
-
Improving
Improving
Improving
Field Sparrow
-
Potential extirpation
Common Name
Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Rock Wren
Hermit Thrush American Robin Gray Catbird Curve-billed Thrasher
Common Name Brown Thrasher
Phainopepla
Lucy's Warbler
Northern Parula Yellow-rumped Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 6 of 7
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Black-chinned Sparrow
x
Stable
Vesper Sparrow
-
Worsening
Lark Sparrow
Worsening*
Stable
Black-throated Sparrow
Worsening*
Improving
Common Name
Summer Trend
Winter Trend
Painted Bunting
Worsening*
-
Dickcissel
Potential extirpation
-
Red-winged Blackbird
Improving*
Worsening
Tricolored Blackbird
Potential colonization
-
Eastern Meadowlark
Improving
Stable
Western Meadowlark
Improving
Stable
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Improving
x
Brewer's Blackbird
-
Worsening*
Great-tailed Grackle
Improving*
Stable
Stable
-
Brown-headed Cowbird
Improving
Worsening
Common Name
Sagebrush/Bell's Sparrow (Sage Sparrow)
-
Improving
Lark Bunting
-
Stable
Savannah Sparrow
-
Worsening
Grasshopper Sparrow
-
Stable
Fox Sparrow
-
Potential extirpation
Song Sparrow
-
Potential extirpation
Lincoln's Sparrow
-
Worsening
Swamp Sparrow
-
Stable
Orchard Oriole
Potential extirpation
-
White-throated Sparrow
-
Potential extirpation
Hooded Oriole
Stable
-
White-crowned Sparrow
-
Stable
Bullock's Oriole
Improving*
-
Dark-eyed Junco
x
Stable
Altamira Oriole
-
Potential colonization
Hepatic Tanager
Improving
-
Worsening*
-
Summer Tanager
Worsening*
-
-
Western Tanager
Stable
-
Potential colonization^
Northern Cardinal
Stable
Worsening
Worsening*
Worsening
Worsening*
Worsening*
Improving
Potential extirpation
Black-headed Grosbeak
Improving
-
Stable
Worsening*
Blue Grosbeak
Worsening
-
Potential extirpation
Potential extirpation
x
Potential extirpation
Pyrrhuloxia
Bronzed Cowbird
Scott's Oriole Black Rosy-Finch House Finch Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch
Lazuli Bunting
Stable
-
Indigo Bunting
Stable
-
House Sparrow
Birds and Climate Change: Big Bend National Park | Page 7 of 7
