ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT PROFILE

PROTECTION STATUS: Endangered

YEAR PLACED ON LIST: 1986

CRITICAL HABITAT: 36,000 acres in Southern California designated in 1994

RECOVERY PLAN: Draft 1998

RANGE: Coastal California to Baja California, Mexico, extending as far east as Death Valley

THREATS: Urbanization, agricultural development, the damming and canalization of rivers and streams, invasion of nonnative plants, pesticides, road construction, sand and gravel mining, and brood parasitism

POPULATION TREND: Once described as one of the most abundant birds in the state of California, by 1986, the least Bell’s vireo population was estimated at 300 pairs. The population increased to 1,300 pairs by 1996 and 2,500 pairs in 2004.