Threatened Birds

Threatened birds are best identified on the basis of specific objective criteria, such as those employed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. By those criteria, approximately 13% of the world's avifauna is at immediate risk of extinction, and altogether 22% of species give cause for concern. These species occur disproportionately on islands and on the mainland of South America. Habitat loss is the most frequent threat to threatened birds; but numerous additional factors, including alien species and hunting, are implicated in the decline of many bird populations. Conservation actions include site and habitat protection; prohibitions on persecution and trade; and intensive, multifaceted management programs.