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A warbler in trouble: Dendroica cerulea

By: , , and 
Edited by: John M. Hagan III and David W. Johnston

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Abstract

The Cerulean Warbler, like other Neotropical migrants, has suffered extensive loss of breeding habitat during the past century. It differs from many other migrants in its preference for mature floodplain forest with tall trees, a habitat that has become scarce over much of the warbler's original nesting range. Sensitivity to fragmentation within remaining suitable tracts places this warbler at an additional disadvantage. Furthermore, Cerulean Warblers winter strictly in primary, humid evergreen forest along an extremely narrow elevational zone at the base of the Andes. This zone is among the most intensively logged and cultivated regions of the Neotropics. From 1966 to 1987 the Cerulean Warbler showed the most precipitous decline of any North American warbler (3.4% per year). Unless steps are taken to protect large tracts of habitat of this ecologically specialized species, both on the breeding grounds and in the Andean foothills, we believe the future of this warbler is in serious jeopardy.

Suggested Citation

Robbins, C., Fitzpatrick, J., and Hamel, P., 1992, A warbler in trouble: Dendroica cerulea, chap. of Ecology and Conservation of Neotropical Migrant Landbirds, p. 549-562.

Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title A warbler in trouble: Dendroica cerulea
Year Published 1992
Language English
Publisher Smithsonian Institution Press
Publisher location Washington, D.C.
Contributing office(s) Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Description xiii, 609
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Other Government Series
Larger Work Title Ecology and Conservation of Neotropical Migrant Landbirds
First page 549
Last page 562
Additional publication details