Endemic Warblers Bahamas | ROLLING HARBOUR ABACO

BAHAMA WARBLERS ON ABACO

The Bahama warbler Setophaga flavescens is a significant species in the Bahamas, not least because of their very confined range. These are speciality birds on Abaco, taking their place alongside just 4 other year-round resident warblers. In contrast, there are 33 recorded migratory or transient warbler species which begin to arrive in early spring and are mostly gone by October.

SPECIAL STATUS

Found only on Abaco and Grand Bahama
One of only 5 bird species endemic to the Bahamas
One of only 2 endemic warbler species on Abaco (with the BAHAMA YELLOWTHROAT)
One of only 5 permanent year-round resident warblers (33 others are migratory), the other 3 being the OLIVE-CAPPED, YELLOW, and PINE warblers.

Credits: Alex Hughes (1, 4); Bruce Hallett (2, 3); Range Map, Cornell

Bahama Warbler, Abaco Bahamas (Bruce Hallett) — *Bahama Warbler . Abaco . Bahamas*

BAHAMA WARBLER: ABACO’S NEWEST ENDEMIC RESIDENT

I was looking at the list of the dozens of Abaco bird species I have featured over the years, when I was struck by the complete omission of one of Abaco’s most significant small birds – the Bahama Warbler Setophaga flavescens. This warbler species is of the most important in the Bahamas for several reasons, any one of which should have prompted me to showcase this lovely bird before now.

A SPECIALITY BIRD

The Bahama warbler is a significant species with a near-unique status in the Bahamas:

Found only on Abaco and Grand Bahama
One of only 5 bird species endemic to the Bahamas
One of only 2 endemic warbler species on Abaco (with the BAHAMA YELLOWTHROAT)
One of only 5 permanent year-round resident warblers (33 others are migratory), the other 3 being the OLIVE-CAPPED, YELLOW, and PINE warblers.

Until 2011, the BAWA was classified as a subspecies of the YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER. The ornithological powers-that-be then recognised that the two species were distinct in both appearance and in vocalisation, and split them into separate species (this splitting / amalgamating process occurs annually and plays havoc with the precious ‘Life Lists’ kept with such rigour by ardent birders**.

The BAWA has such a confined range that even the extensive reach of the wonderful Cornell Lab of Ornithology has not got as far as this bird. The info sections of the otherwise comprehensive website for Neotropical Birds are blank and waiting for someone to upload some details. Here are a few facts in one of a very good series of info-graphics produced by the BAHAMAS NATIONAL TRUST.