The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that the Sprague’s pipit, a small grassland bird, warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act , but that listing the species under the Act is precluded by the need to address other listing actions of a higher priority. The Sprague’s pipit will be classified as a candidate species until a listing proposal can be prepared. Candidate species do not receive statutory protection under the ESA and remain state-managed species.
The Sprague’s pipit both breeds and winters on the North American prairie. The breeding range includes parts of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota in the United States. In Canada, Sprague’s pipits breed in parts of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The species’ wintering range includes parts of Arizona, Texas, southern Oklahoma, southern Arkansas, northwest Mississippi, southern Louisiana, and northern Mexico.
The Service made the determination Tuesday in response to a petition filed October 9, 2008 by WildEarth Guardians.
Source: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Posted by Haylie Shipp
