Swainson's warbler in South Carolina

Abstract

Some birds species have been rare since man discovered them. Two such birds, Bachman's warbler (Vermivora bachmanii) and Swainson's warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii), occur in South Carolina. Both were discovered there in the early 1800's. Subsequently, both went unreported for several decades. Arthur T. Wayne found populations of both warblers near Charleston: Swainson's was rediscovered in 1884 and Bachman's in 1901. Both species nest in hardwood swamps and bottomland forests. Here the parallel ends. Bachman's warbler is now close to extinction. Swainson's is still considered rare, although sizeable local populations are known in the South (Meanley 1971 ). Overall, the population of Swainson's warbler may be less than that of the Bachman's at its historical peak (Stevenson 1972).

Citation

Hooper, Robert G.; Hamel, Paul B. 1976. Swainson's warbler in South Carolina. In:Proceedings of the first South Carolina Endangered Species Symposium. 1976 . Nov. 11-12: Charleston, SC: p. 178-182.