PROTECTION STATUS: Endangered
YEAR PLACED ON LIST: 1986
CRITICAL HABITAT: 36,000 acres in Southern California designated in 1994
RECOVERY PLAN: Draft 1998
RANGE: Coastal California to Baja California, Mexico, extending as far east as Death Valley
THREATS: Urbanization, agricultural development, the damming and canalization of rivers and streams, invasion of nonnative plants, pesticides, road construction, sand and gravel mining, and brood parasitism
POPULATION TREND: Once described as one of the most abundant birds in the state of California, by 1986, the least Bell's vireo population was estimated at 300 pairs. The population increased to 1,300 pairs by 1996 and 2,500 pairs in 2004.