10 of the Rarest Birds in the United States

Even though there are more than 10,000 bird species across the world, whenever one goes extinct, it’s a tragic event. That’s why everyone must recognize and acknowledge birds that are close to disappearing in order to help them recover.

This subject came up after a new study led by the Smithsonian Institution’s Migratory Bird Center in Washington D.C. discovered that the number of Island Scrub-Jay’s was much lower than previously thought. The population of the rare bird, found only on California’s Santa Cruz Island, is at about 2,500 rather than the previously estimated 10,000.

Unfortunately, this reminds us that there are still dozens of birds just in the United States that are highly endangered. Here’s a look at these fleeting birds.

California Condor

The largest bird in North America is also one of the rarest. At their lowest point, a mere 22 condors were found in the wild in 1987 until they were all captured for a breeding program. As of May 2012, according to The Oregonian, there are about 405 known condors, with only 226 living in the wild. If you want to know more about the California Condor, read my post about the bird from last year.

Whooping Crane

Photo by John Noll

The number of the Whooping Cranes was said to have topped 10,000 back before settlers came upon the continent, and numbers dipped dangerously low to about 15 in 1938. These amazing birds, which stand 5 feet tall and let out a loud whopping call, have slowly climbed back. The Red List reports about 382 wild Whooping Cranes, with only one self-sustaining group breeding in Canada and wintering in Texas.

San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike

The Loggerhead Shrike is not itself endangered, but the island subspecies found on San Clemente Island in Southern California is. At one point, as recent as 1998, there were only 14 individual birds on San Clemente Island. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife, 206 wild shrikes were on the island in 2006.

Mississippi Sandhill Crane

A subspecies of the Sandhill Crane, the Mississippi Sandhill Crane is critically endangered. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife estimates 110 birds, but the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge protects important wet pine savanna habitat.

Island Scrub Jay

As stated in the intro, this was originally thought to be just a vulnerable bird with about 10,000 left, but further research found that the numbers are far lower than expected. The good news is that its numbers aren’t as low as the other birds on this list, as there are about 2,500 remaining.

Attwater’s Prairie Chicken

These grandiose birds are a subspecies of the Great Prairie Chicken and are found in Texas and Louisiana. Thanks to urbanization and the loss of habitat, their numbers dipped from one million to a few hundred. Although I have seen a few numbers about today’s population, there were only about 50 living in the wild as recent as 1998. Currently, there are several captive breeding programs throughout Texas to bolster the population.

California Clapper Rail

The California Clapper Rail is a subspecies of the Clapper Rail that’s found primarily in California. This wading bird relies heavily on marshes, which were destroyed over the years. Although its numbers dipped dangerously low, there are now about 1,800 left.

Light-footed Clapper Rail

A close relative of the California Clapper Rail, the Light-footed Clapper Rail has suffered the same fate. Loss of habitat and intrusion by humans has caused the numbers to decline. Only a couple of hundred are still in the wild.

Kirtland’s Warbler

The Kirtland’s Warbler was on the brink of extinction about 50 years ago when its habitat in Michigan, Wisconsin and Canada began disappearing. There were only about 200 Kirtland’s Warblers in the 1980s, but they’ve made a significant recovery as their habitat has grown. The government’s census of the bird reported 2,090 singing males as of 2012.

Ivory-billed Woodpecker

And last, but not least, is the legendary Ivory-billed Woodpecker. While many people are hopeful that this bird still exists, each passing year without a sighting is evidence otherwise. The last reported sightings of the fabled bird was between 2004 and 2006 in Arkansas and Florida. Those sightings were widely debated and further searches came up empty. As of right now, this is either the rarest bird in the United States or another extinct bird that reminds us of the destruction humans can cause on nature. I’m hoping the former.

Other rare birds include the Gunnison Sage-Grouse, Piping Plover, Florida Scrub Jay, Ashy Storm Petrel, Northern Spotted Owl and Inyo California Towhee.