Bachman’s Warbler, Once One of North America’s Rarest Songbirds, Now Likely Extinct

The Bachman’s Warbler, a rare songbird once found in North America, is now likely extinct, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This news comes as the agency removed the bird from the endangered list, along with 20 other species, indicating their almost certain extinction. The Bachman’s Warbler, known for its distinctive bright yellow face and curved beak, was part of the wood warbler family. Not much is known about the bird’s history or habitat, with only a handful of images and one preserved carcass in existence. The species was named after John Bachman, who first spotted the birds in South Carolina in 1832. The Bachman’s Warbler migrated across Florida and wintered in Cuba, with the Everglades considered its primary habitat. However, loss of habitat due to human development and the suppression of beneficial wildfires contributed to the decline of the bird’s population. The extinction of the Bachman’s Warbler serves as a reminder of the importance of smart land-use decisions and protecting natural resources to preserve at-risk species.