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Kirtland's warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii ) [=Dendroica kirtlandii]Status: Endangered
Male Kirtland's warbler. Photo by USFWS; Joel Trick
Status: Endangered, first listed March 11, 1967
Habitat: Breeds in jack pine
Lead Region: 3
Region 3 Lead Office: East Lansing, Michigan Field Office
Range: Michigan, Wisconsin
The Kirtland's warbler, an endangered species, is a songbird that nests in young jack pine stands. Until 1995 Kirtland’s warblers had only been known to nest in the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Today, they also nest in the Upper Peninsula, and since 2007, have nested in Wisconsin and Canada. They migrate from their nesting grounds to the southeastern coast of the United States on their way to wintering grounds in the Bahamas.
Listen to a podcast!Find out about the Kirtland's warbler from Field Office biologists Dan Elbert, Chris Mensing and Christie Deloria.
Long-term Management for Kirtland's WarblerAs a conservation-reliant species, the Kirtland’s warbler will always be dependent on annual habitat management and control of parasitic cowbirds. Although recovery goals have been met, provisions for continued management must be ensured before Endangered Species Act protection can be removed for the Kirtland's. A first step is a Memorandum of Agreement signed by partner agencies. Kirtland's WarblerImages in Flickr
Kirtland's Warbler in Michigan
Kirtland's Warbler in WisconsinUntil 1995 Kirtland’s warblers had only been known to nest in the northern part of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. Since then they have expanded their range to the Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin and Canada. Nesting was first documented in Wisconsin in 2007. Below is information about the Kirtland's in Wisconsin.
Securing a Futurefor the Bird of Fire
Photo by U.S. Forest Service
The blackened, smoldering terrain that is left after a wildfire is often viewed as a significant environmental loss. But from an ecological perspective, fire often provides a transforming rebirth. This is especially true for the jack pine forests of the northern lower peninsula of Michigan that are home to the federally endangered Kirtland’s warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii).
Natural History and Regulatory InformationKirtland's warblers build their nests on the ground in stands of young jack pine. The jack pines must be just the right height (about 5 to 16 feet tall) and the trees must be spaced to let sunlight through to the ground. Sunlight helps keep lower tree branches alive and bushy, hiding the nest beneath them. When the trees grow larger their upper branches block the sun, causing the lower branches to die. Grasses and other plants also become less dense. The warblers then must find other nesting areas. After nesting and raising their young, Kirtland's warblers migrate to the Bahamas where they winter in scrub thickets.
Recovery Information:Recovery is the process used to restore threatened and endangered species to the point that protection under the Endangered Species Act is no longer needed.
Under natural conditions, Kirtland's warbler nesting habitat is produced by fire. Fire has always occurred in forests and jack pine trees are dependent on fire. Heat from fire is needed to open their cones to release seeds. Fire also removes plants that compete with jack pines for forest space and creates a bed of ash that helps the new seeds grow. Fires before the 20th century were more widespread in the jack pine plains of Michigan and created large nesting areas for the Kirtland's warbler. Modern habitat management is aimed at mimicking post-fire conditions. Prescribed fire, clearcutting, replanting, and cowbird control are some of the measures taken to restore Kirtland's warblers and their habitat. We work with the U.S. Forest Service, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and other partners to recover and conserve Kirtland's warblers.
Midwest Endangered and Threatened Birds Midwest Endangered Species Home
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Last updated:
February 17, 2015
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