8/3/2019 Golden Cheeked Warbler(Bird Info)

1/4

DescriptionThe Golden-cheeked Warbler is asmall, migratory songbird, 4.5 to5 inches long, with a wingspan ofabout 8 inches. The male has a blackback, throat, and cap; and yellowcheeks with a black stripe through theeye. Females are similar, but less col-orful. The lower breast and belly ofboth sexes are white with blackstreaks on the flanks.

HabitatTypical nesting habitat is found intall, dense, mature stands of Ashejuniper (blueberry cedar) mixed withtrees such as Texas (Spanish) oak,Lacey oak, shin (scalybark) oak, liveoak, post oak, Texas ash, cedar elm,hackberry, bigtooth maple, sycamore,

Arizona walnut, escarpment cherry,and pecan. This type of woodlandgenerally grows in relatively moistareas such as steep-sided canyons,slopes, and adjacent uplands. A mixof juniper and deciduous trees on theslopes, along drainage bottoms, andin creeks and draws provide an idealmix of vegetation for these birds.

Warblers can also be found in drier,

upland juniper-oak (i.e., Texas oak,live oak, post oak, blackjack oak)woodlands over flat topography.

Not all mature juniper-mixeddeciduous woodlandsare used by Golden-cheeked Warblers. Onlyhabitat actually used byendangered or threatenedanimals is subject to protec-tion by the Endangered Species

Act (ESA). (Only habitat modifica-tions that would result in harm tothe Golden-cheeked Warbler would beconsidered a violation by privateactions under the ESA.)

Warblers need a combination ofmature Ashe juniper and hardwoodtrees in their nesting habitat. Maturejuniper trees vary in age and growthform, depending on site factors. Gen-erally, trees required for nesting habi-tat are at least 15 feet tall with atrunk diameter of about five inches atfour feet above the ground. Theessential element is that juniper treeshave shredding bark, at least near thebase of the tree.

Although the composition of

woody vegetation varies within suit-able warbler habitat, Ashe juniper isoften, but not always, the dominantspecies. One study showed thatjuniper comprises anywhere from10-90% of total trees in occupiedhabitat at 27 sites scattered through-out the breeding range.

Golden-cheeked Warblers havebeen found in patches of habitatsmaller than 12 acres, although popu-lations of warblers in larger tracts of

woodland habitats will persist longerthan populations in small tracts ofland. With increasingly fragmented

habitat, smaller patches may becommore important to warblers, particularly those located near areas of ocpied habitat.

In general, Golden-cheekedWarblers occur in areas with a modate to high density of older trees, andense foliage in the upper canopy.Higher warbler densities are associ-ated with larger contiguous patchesgreater average tree height, greater

variability in tree heights, and greatdensity of deciduous trees.

Life HistoryThe Golden-cheeked Warblers entirnesting range is currently confined habitat in 33 counties in centralTexas. The birds are dependent on

Ashe juniper (blueberry juniper orcedar) for fine bark strips used innest construction. Although nestsmay be placed in various species oftrees, such as juniper, Texas oak, liv

oak, and cedar elm, all nests contaistrips of Ashe juniper bark woventogether with spider webs.

Warblers feed almost entirely ocaterpillars, spiders, beetles, and othinsects found in foliage. The birdsare thought to take advantage ofinsect blooms associated with different plants as the growing season prgresses. For example, broad-leavedtrees and shrubs, especially oaks, arparticularly important in providinghabitat for insects during the first

Golden-cheeked Warbler

Golden-cheeked WarblerScientific Name: Dendroica chrysoparia

Federal Status: Endangered, 5/4/90 State Status: Endangered

Male Golden-cheeked Warbler Greg W. Lasley

Female Golden-cheeked Warbler Greg W. Lasley

8/3/2019 Golden Cheeked Warbler(Bird Info)

2/4

part of the nesting season. Later inthe season, warblers are frequentlyseen foraging in Ashe juniper. Mesic(relatively moist) conditions, such asthose found on wooded slopes,canyon bottoms, and along creeks anddraws, are especially favorable for theproduction of insect foods.

Depending on the location andquality of habitat, Golden-cheeked

Warblers forage and nest in areas ofhabitat ranging in size from five to20 acres per pair. Within suitablenesting habitat, male Golden-cheeked

Warblers occupy an area, called a ter-ritory, which is vigorously defendedagainst all other male Golden-cheeked

Warblers. Nesting territories range insize from three to ten acres, depend-ing on habitat quality. Banding stud-ies show that males often occupy thesame territory in subsequent breed-ing seasons. Male warblers can oftenbe located through their territorialsong, described as a rather hurried,buzzy tweah-tweah-twee-sy. Single,

sharp chipping calls can frequentlybe heard as Golden-cheeks forageamong the trees.

The female does most of the workof nest building and incubating theeggs. The cup-like nest is often neatlytucked into the fork of a vertical limband camouflaged to blend with thebark of the tree. Nests are constructedat an average height of 15 feet aboveground, although they have been foundas low as five feet and as high as 32feet. The male stays close by, singinghis distinctive song and defending histerritory during incubation.

During April, a single clutch ofthree to four eggs is laid. Warblersusually nest only once per season,unless a nest is lost to accident or pre-dation. The eggs hatch in 12 days,and both parents care for the young.

After the young hatch, male singingdeclines, although they can still beheard into June. Nestlings fledgeeight or nine days after hatching, butremain in the vicinity of the territoryfor at least four weeks while beingcared for by both parents.

Golden-cheeked Warblers migrate

to their wintering grounds in thepine-oak woodlands of southern Mex-ico (Chiapas), Guatemala, Honduras,and Nicaragua from late June to mid

August. They return to Texas in earlyto mid-March.

Threats and Reasonsfor DeclineThe most serious problems facing theGolden-cheeked Warbler today, as inthe recent past, are habitat loss and

fragmentation. Since warblers havelimited and specific habitat require-ments, direct habitat loss has resultedin population reduction, althoughprecise comparisons of historic andcurrent populations are not available.

Recently, serious losses in nestinghabitat have occurred in counties suchas Travis, Williamson, and Bexar, whererapid urban development has spreadinto oak-juniper woodlands associated

with canyonlands. Flood control andother impoundments have also reducedhabitat for the warbler by inundatingthe juniper-oak woodlands existing oncanyon slopes and bottoms alongsprings, streams, and rivers. Construc-tion of large reservoirs has also led toloss of warbler habitat due to develop-ment of lake-side communities.

Historically, some warbler habitatwas lost as a result of clearingjuniper/oak woodlands for increasedlivestock production or improved live-stock handling. Stands of large junipertrees were also cut for sale as fence

posts and other timber products, espe-cially before 1940. Over-browsing bywhite-tailed deer, goats, and exoticungulates is believed to contribute tohabitat degradation by reducing thesurvival of seedling oaks and otherdeciduous trees, which are a vital com-ponent of warbler habitat. Also, manyof the deeper and more fertile soils inmuch of the Hill Country are found insmall floodplains along creeks or inter-mittent streams associated with hillsidedrainage. Many of these areas, someof them supporting a variety of decidu-ous trees, were cleared and convertedto forage crops and pasture, oftenresulting in a decrease in the amountof warbler habitat.

Habitat loss may be obscured bythe increase in juniper on rangelandthroughout central Texas. The inva-sion of juniper on upland sites isoften the result of fire suppression,overgrazing, or a combination ofboth. These young juniper standsinvading open rangelands generallylack the kinds and numbers of hard-

wood trees required by warblers.Warblers are usually not found in

monocultures (pure stands) wherejuniper comprises over 90% of thecomposition throughout a large area.

Poor grazing managementpractices and fire suppression resultin a decline in the diversity and pro-ductivity of rangeland. The declinein range condition associated withimproper management has led toincreases in juniper throughout theHill Country.

Brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds may threaten success-ful reproduction of Golden-cheeked

Warblers, although the degree of2 Golden-cheeked Warbler

Female warbler with insect TPWD Dean Keddy-Hector

Warbler at a nest TPWD Dean Keddy-Hector

Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat TPWD David Riskind

8/3/2019 Golden Cheeked Warbler(Bird Info)

3/4

Golden-cheeked Warbler

impact of cowbird parasitism on war-bler productivity is not fully under-stood. Cowbirds lay their eggs inother birds nests, leaving the host birdto raise the cowbird young. Golden-cheeked Warblers apparently willeither abandon parasitized nests, orraise young cowbirds in addition to orin place of their own young. Warblersthat abandon parasitized nests mayrenest later in the season. However,abandonment of first clutches, or rais-ing cowbird young in addition to theirown, decreases the total number andsurvivability of Golden-cheeked war-bler young produced.

Habitat fragmentation reducesthe quality and quantity of warblerhabitat. In small woodland patches,the increased proportion of habitatedge to interior area may increaserates of brood parasitism and preda-tion, so that the surviving popula-tions cannot maintain themselves.

Also, increased distances betweenpatches may make recolonization of

vacated habitat more difficult.In Texas, Mexico and CentralAmerica, habitat management and pro-tection, responsible land stewardship,and incentives for landowners tomaintain and develop habitat, are keysto the survival and recovery of theGolden-cheeked Warbler. The diversemix of hardwoods and junipers incanyons, and on slopes and adjacenthilltops, provide ideal habitat for the

warbler. Numerous beautiful andinteresting native plants and animalsare also found in these canyons.

Recovery EffortsResearch is underway to better under-stand the life history, habitat require-ments, limiting factors, and landmanagement practices affecting theGolden-cheeked Warbler. Populationsurveys during the breeding seasonare being conducted in known andpotential habitat areas. Efforts to pro-

vide information and educationalopportunities to landowners and thepublic regarding life history and habi-tat requirements of the warbler arealso a vital part of the recovery effort.

Major recovery efforts are being con-ducted on Department of DefensesFort Hood and Camp Bullis, TravisCounty and the City of Austins Bal-cones Canyonlands Preserve, the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Services BalconesCanyonlands National Wildlife Refuge,and many properties owned and/ormanaged by the Nature Conservancy.

Additionally, Environmental Defensethrough their Safe Harbor Agreement

with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serviceis assisting many landowners to man-age and/or create habitat for the ben-

efit of the warbler. Voluntary cowbird

Closed canopy habitat Carol Beardmore

Juniper with peeling bark TPWD D. Keddy-Hector

trapping is being conducted by morthan 400 landowners in countiesthroughout the range of the warbler

Recently, a consortium ofresearchers in governmental and nogovernmental agencies has proposea multinational effort to better undstand and coordinate approaches tomanaging and recovering the Goldecheeked Warbler. Additional researin Mexico and Central America isplanned to gather information con-cerning life history and habitatrequirements on the wintering rangStudies are needed to assess thepotential for income generating actities, such as selective harvest ofjuniper, which may be compatible

with habitat protection.

Where To See theGolden-cheekedWarbler

A number of state lands, includingColorado Bend State Park (SP),

Dinosaur Valley SP, Garner SP,Guadalupe River SP, Honey Creek StNatural Area (SNA), Hill Country SNAKerr Wildlife Management Area, Lonhorn Cavern SP, Lost Maples SNA,Meridian SP, Pedernales Falls SP, andPossum Kingdom SP offer opportunities for people to see Golden-cheeke

Warblers and their habitat. Otherlocations include the Balcones Canyolands National Wildlife Refuge, Travi

Audubon Sanctuary, Wild BasinPreserve, and Emma Long City Park the Austin area; and Friedrich Wildeness Park near San Antonio. Once

open to the public, GovernmentCanyon State Natural Area, locatednorthwest of San Antonio, will offeradditional opportunities to seeGolden-cheeked Warblers.

Because the Golden-cheekedWarbler is an endangered species,birders and other observers shouldcarefully follow certain viewingethics. Recorded calls of the Goldecheeked Warbler or Screech Owlshould not be used to attract birdsand observers should be careful noto disturb or stress birds.

How You Can HelpYou can help by providing encouragment and support for privatelandowners who are managingtheir land to protect natural diversiand endangered species habitat.Landowners are encouraged to learthe facts about the Golden-cheeked

Warbler and its habitat needs, and protect areas of habitat found ontheir property.

Creek bottom habitat TPWD Glen Mills

8/3/2019 Golden Cheeked Warbler(Bird Info)

4/4

4 Golden-cheeked Warbler

The Golden-cheeked Warbler is abeautiful songbird, and is much soughtafter among people who enjoy bird-

watching and nature study. Possibili-ties exist for landowners to takeadvantage of the growing demand fornatural history tours and vacations.Landowners interested in more infor-mation concerning nature tourismopportunities should contact theNature Tourism Coordinator, TexasParks and Wildlife Department, Austin(512) 389-4396; EnvironmentalDefense, Austin (512) 478-5161; or theNature Conservancy, San Antonio(210) 224-8774.

Finally, you can be involved inthe conservation of Texas nongame

wildlife resources by supporting theSpecial Nongame and EndangeredSpecies Conservation Fund. Specialnongame stamps and decals are avail-able at Texas Parks and WildlifeDepartment (TPWD) field offices,most state parks, and the LicenseBranch of TPWD headquarters in

Austin. Conservation organizationsin Texas also welcome your participa-tion and support.

For More InformationContactTexas Parks and Wildlife Department

Wildlife Diversity Branch4200 Smith School Road

Austin, Texas 78744(512) 912-7011 or (800) 792-1112

orU.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceEcological Services Field Office10711 Burnet Road, Suite 200

Austin, Texas 78758(512) 490-0057

Management guidelines are availablefrom the Texas Parks and WildlifeDepartment and U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service for landowners andmanagers wishing to maintain andimprove habitat for the Golden-cheeked Warbler.

Funds for the production of this leaflet were provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, under Section 6 of the Endangered Species Act.

Urban expansion USFWS Wyman Meinzer

Warbler with identification band TPWD

Golden-cheeked Warbler habitat TPWD Bill Reaves

ReferencesArnold, K.A., C.L. Coldren, and M.L. Fink. 1996. The interactions between avian

predators and golden-cheeked warblers in Travis County, Texas . Researchreport 1983-2 for Texas Department of Transportation.

Coldren, C.L. 1998. The effects of habitat fragmentation on the golden-cheekedwarbler. Ph.D. Dissertation, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

Engels, T.M. 1995. Conservation biology of the golden-cheeked warbler. Ph.D.Dissertation, University of Texas, Austin, Texas

Fink, M.L. 1996. Factors contributing to nest predation within habitat of thegolden-cheeked warbler, Travis County, Texas . M.S. Thesis, Texas A&M Uni-versity, College Station, Texas.

Huss, D.L. 1954. Factors inf luencing plant succession following fire in ashejuniper woodland types in Real County, Texas. MS Thesis, Texas A&M Univer-sity, College Station, Texas. 77pp.

Ladd, C. and L. Gass. 1999. Golden-cheeked warbler (Dendroica chrysoparia).In The Birds of North America, No. 420. (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birdsof North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Mass, D.S. and G.D. Schnell. 1998. Effects of habitat fragmentation on demograph-ics of golden-cheeked warblers (Dendroica chrysoparia ). Masters Thesis,Part 1 of 2, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma.

Oberholser, H.C. 1974. The bird life of Texas. University of Texas Press, Austin,Texas.

Pulich, W. 1976. The golden-cheeked warbler, a bioecological study. Texas Parksand Wildlife Department, Austin, Texas. 172pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1992. Golden-cheeked warbler recoveryplan. USFWS, Endangered Species Office, Albuquerque, NM. 88pp.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 1996. Golden-cheeked warbler populationand habitat viability assessment report. Compiled and edited by Carol Beard-more, Jeff Hatfield, and Jim Lewis in conjunction with workshop participants.Report of an August 21-24, 1995 workshop arranged by the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service in partial fulfillment of U.S. National Biological Service GrantNo. 80333-1423. Austin, Texas. xii+48pp.+Appendix.

Wahl, R., D.D. Diamond, and D. Shaw. 1990. The golden-cheeked warbler: a statusreview. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ecological Services Office, Austin, Texas.