| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANIMALIA | CHORDATA | AVES | PASSERIFORMES | EMBERIZIDAE |
| Scientific Name: | Calcarius ornatus | |||
| Species Authority: | (Townsend, 1837) | |||
Common Name/s:
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| Red List Category & Criteria: | Near Threatened ver 3.1 | |||
| Year Published: | 2008 | |||
| Assessor/s: | BirdLife International | |||
| Reviewer/s: | Bird, J., Butchart, S. | |||
| Contributor/s: | Rosenberg, K., Butcher, G., Wells, J. | |||
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Justification: This species appears to have undergone a moderately rapid decline and hecne qualifies as Near Threatened. |
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| History: |
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| Range Description: | Calcarius ornatus breeds in the Great Plains (north and central USA) and the Canadian Prairie Provinces (southern central Canada), and winters in south-central and south-western USA and north-central Mexico2. It has undergone long-term population declines so that it is now rare or extirpated as a breeding species in a number of States formerly occupied. Breeding Bird Survey data record significant declines since 1980 in South Dakota which remains a stronghold of the species. Given that populations already have been drastically reduced in neighbouring Minnesota and Nebraska, South Dakota populations, in particular, should be closely monitored2. Its decline measured by the Breeding Bird Survey equates to 7.4% per year (53.5% per decade) over 1993-2002, 3.9% per year (32.8% per decade) over 1980-2002, and 2.4% per year (31.6% per decade) over 1966-2002. |
| Countries: |
Native:
Canada; Mexico; United States
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| Range Map: | Click here to open the map viewer and explore range. |
| Population: | Rich et al. (2004). |
| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
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| Habitat and Ecology: | It is a native-prairie specialist1, its breeding range restricted to short-grass and mixed-grass prairie regions, and its wintering range restricted to dry grasslands and deserts, where it feeds on grains in high density flocks2. It prefers native grasslands recently disturbed by fire, grazing or mowing, and will avoid nesting in areas protected from grazing or cultivated fields3,4. |
| Systems: | Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): | As a result of conversion of native prairie to croplands and urban developments it has disappeared from much of its historical breeding range (e.g. in Kansas, Nebraska and Minnesota). The wintering range has also contracted: this is presumed to have resulted from a population decline. Brown-headed cowbirds parasitise this species and there is a high level of predation by native predators2. It can be vulnerable to disturbance2. |
| Conservation Actions: |
Conservation Actions Underway It has been the focus of a number of studies on the breeding grounds, but no species-specific management actions are in place. Conservation Actions Proposed Continue monitoring the species, if necessary using a methodology more appropriate than the Breeding Bird Survey. Identify key migration stopovers and wintering sites, and threats to these areas. Ascertain winter habitat requirements and preferences. Develop suitable methods and incentives to restore native prairie habitats. Maintenance of native prairie grasslands is essential for this species. |
| Citation: | BirdLife International 2008. Calcarius ornatus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 May 2012. |
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