Willow flycatcher may lose its endangered classification

A tiny songbird that has been on the endangered species list for more than 20 years could be delisted, but not because its populations are increasing. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last week published a finding indicating that there was “substantial information” that the Southwestern willow flycatcher is not a subspecies, the designation under which it was classified as endangered in 1995. The findings published in the National Register on Wednesday indicate that delisting the bird may be warranted “based on information related to taxonomic status.” While the several groups that petitioned to have the bird delisted also argued it was warranted because of a lack of threats and current regulations that sufficiently protect the bird, a Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman said that taxonomy was the only assertion that was accepted...more