Golden-winged warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 10

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Existing protection or other status designations

The Golden-winged Warbler is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 which prevents direct take of birds, their nests and the contents. They are currently under status assessment in the United States to determine whether they warrant protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, but are not listed federally at this time (Buehler et al. 2003). However, in the United States they are listed as Endangered in 3 states, as a Species of Special Concern in 5 states, as Rare or Threatened in 4 states, and In Need of Management in 1 state (Table 2).

The Golden-winged Warbler currently has provincial or territorial listing only in Québec, where it is considered “Likely to be designated as threatened or vulnerable”.  NatureServe (2004) gives the species a global rank of G4 – apparently secure, uncommon but not rare. NatureServe ranks by state and province are listed in Table 3.

1=Critically imperiled because of extreme rarity (often 5 or fewer occurrences) or because of some factor(s) such as very steep declines making it especially vulnerable to extirpation from the state or province, 2=Imperiled because of rarity due to very restricted range, very few populations (often 20 or fewer), steep declines, or other factors making it very vulnerable to extirpation, 3=Vulnerable due to a restricted range, relatively few populations (often 80 or fewer), recent and widespread declines, or other factors making it vulnerable to extirpation, 4=Uncommon but not rare; some cause for long-term concern due to declines or other factors, 5=Common, widespread, and abundant, NR=unranked, X=extirpated; states where ranked as NA (Not applicable because not suitable for conservation activities) are not listed.