Hundreds of bird species are on a track toward extinction. If these species blink out, we’ll have just one species to blame: ours.

A casual observer might not notice, but take a closer look. Across the Americas, fewer birds inhabit our landscapes.

Some familiar birds, like the Wood Thrush, are 50 percent less common than they were 50 years ago. This thrush is just one of dozens of native bird species in the Americas that may face extinction in the next decades, if current trends continue. In fact, across the Western Hemisphere, 12 percent of 4,230 bird species are declining in population and headed for extinction in our lifetimes without immediate conservation action.

No Bird Extinctions Allowed

The situation of the Wood Thrush is dire, but 91 other bird species are much worse off. These are the Alliance for Zero Extinction bird species of the Americas —those found only in a single site and surviving on the edge.

Take Stresemann's Bristlefront of Brazil: This unique, burrow-nesting species numbers fewer than 15 individuals. Hawai'i's Maui Parrotbill has as few as 500 surviving members.

How We Save the Rarest Birds

At ABC, halting extinctions is one of our specialties: the top element in our strategic conservation framework. We do it by creating reserves for the rarest species.

Just as important, we reduce man-made threats like overfishing, glass collisions, and invasive species that bring rare species even closer to extinction.

Conservation Efforts

  • Working with partners, we’ve created a network of nearly 70 reserves that span 15 countries and form a life-support system for nearly half of the hemisphere’s rarest birds.
  • Birds like the Marvelous Spatuletail, Cerulean Warbler, and Golden-winged Warbler can be found in ABC-supported reserves.
  • In Hawai’i, that tropical paradise, more than 70 bird species have gone extinct since humans arrived. Without help, the ‘Akikiki could be next.

How You Can Help

  • Donate to ABC! Our four-star Charity Navigator rating ensures that your support will help conserve birds.
  • Take action: Our easy-to-use alert system enables you to speak out for birds that need help now.
  • See it, save it: By visiting our bird reserves, you can have the experience of a lifetime while supporting conservation.