3.3 Birds
T ABLE 3.1 SGCN bird species (cont.)
Federal/ State Status*
Family
Scientifc Name Contopus cooperi
Common Name
Tyrannidae
Olive-sided Flycatcher
—
Empidonax alnorum
Alder Flycatcher
—
Empidonax virescens
Acadian Flycatcher
—
Tyto alba
Tytonidae
Barn Owl
—
* See Table 3.2 for abbreviations. ** Te USFWS has listed two separate populations of Piping Plover for protection under the ESA. Te Great Lakes population (interior population) is listed as an endangered (E) species and the Northern Great Plains and Atlantic coast population is listed as a threatened (T) species. Birds from both populations may occur in North Carolina; however, the USFWS Region 4 ofce has indicated the Northern Great Plains and Atlantic coast population occurs in the state during breeding season. For more information see the USFWS Piping Plover species profle (http://ecos.fws.gov/speciesProfle/profle/speciesProfle.action?sp- code=B079). North Carolina’s protected species list includes the breeding population as a threatened species. *** Bird subspecies designated by USFWS as a Federal Species of Concern (FSC) are recognized by use of a trinomial scientifc name or other identifer for specifc population segments. Examples include Eastern Henslow’s Sparrow ( Ammodramus henslowii susurrans ), Southern Appalachian Red Crossbill ( Loxia curvirostra pop. 1), and Northern Saw-whet Owl – Southern Appalachian population ( Aegolius acadicus pop. 1). Other populations of these species may not carry the FSC designation. Conservation recommendations for the associated habitats have been incorporated into the natural community descriptions in Chapter 4. Additional recommendations can be found in the river basin descriptions (Section 4.5). Te following sections provide information about birds the Taxa Team identifed as SGCN or a priority for research or management. 3.3.2 Comparison of 2005 and 2015 Priority Species Te 2015 Taxa Team evaluation identifed a total of 164 species as conservation concern, knowledge gap, or management concern priorities. Some species are a priority in more than one of the three evaluation categories (see Appendix G). Of the 164 priority species, 99 were identifed as SGCN and another 38 were designated as research priorities. In comparison, the 2005 WAP identifed 92 priority species which may have included con- cerns for knowledge gaps. However, the 2005 Taxa Team evaluation did not identify knowl- edge gaps or management concerns as separate priorities. Tese changes do not necessar- ily indicate a change in the concern status of these species; they are more likely a result of diferent evaluation methodologies from the 2005 process (see Appendix F) or refect an increase in our knowledge base for the species. When research data improve scientifc understanding about relationships among and between species, the taxonomic classifcation of a species may warrant change. Tis new information often leads to suggestions for taxonomic revisions, such as those proposed by Frost et al. (2006) or published in the American Ornithologist’s Union Check-list of North
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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