Conservation Actions Underway
CMS Appendix II. There is much research activity in the breeding range and, increasingly, the Caribbean. Some important breeding areas and c.50% of sites in the Dominican Republic are actively protected (Rimmer et al. 1999), but recent funding requests for management were turned down. Management and protection of existing reserves and parks is now inadequate (C. Rimmer in litt. 2003). A predictive model has been developed and used to generate a population estimate for this species within New Hampshire (Hale 2006), and a more general model has been used to predict distribution in the north-eastern USA in order to inform and plan habitat management/alteration decisions (Lambert et al. 2005). New (and expansion of existing) ski-resorts are developed following environmental impact assessment, in a way that mitigates against habitat loss and disturbance (Anon 2006). One development established a fund for protecting the wintering grounds (Anon 2006).A conservation action plan has been produced for the species, with the overall goal of achieving a 25% population increase during the period 2011-2060 and no further net loss in distribution (IBTCG 2010).
Conservation Actions Proposed
Clarify distribution and migration details (Atwood et al. 1996, Rimmer 1996). Refine estimates of population size (Atwood et al. 1996, Rimmer 1996), potentially by using an existing predictive model and applying it to new areas. Evaluate human impacts on breeding birds (C. C. Rimmer in litt. 1998, 1999). Clarify winter segregation (C. C. Rimmer in litt. 1998, 1999). Develop strategies to maintain dense stands of regenerating balsam fir in Quebec. Develop management plans for existing, and designate new, reserves in the Dominican Republic (C. C. Rimmer in litt. 1998, 1999, Rimmer et al. 1999).

It breeds in dense montane forests (above 900 m) of balsam fir Abies balsamae and red spruce Picea rubens, usually near the treeline (Atwood et al. 1996, Rimmer 1996), but occupies less than 75% of available habitat (C. C. Rimmer in litt. 1998, 1999). In Canada, it also inhabits regenerating clear-cuts and coastal areas with spruce-fir at low elevations (Atwood et al. 1996). In winter, it occurs in moist broadleaved and mixed pine-broadleaved montane forests and secondary woodlands (Rimmer 1996, Raffaele et al. 1998, Rimmer et al. 1999). It nests in June-July (present on breeding grounds May-September), sometimes with high failure rates (Rimmer 1996). It may sexually segregate in winter, with females in "poorer quality" habitats (C. C. Rimmer in litt. 1998, 1999).

Red List Category

Red List Criteria

Version

2012

BirdLife International

Butchart, S. & Symes, A.

Busby, D., Campbell, G., McFarland, K., Rimmer, C., Seutin, G. & Whittam, B.

This species is listed as Vulnerable because its population is suspected to be in rapid decline overall, on the basis of regional trend data and knowledge of on-going threats that are causing habitat loss and degradation in both its breeding and wintering ranges.