Birdfinding.info ⇒ The most recent record of Semper’s Warbler that is considered certain occurred in 1961—or in 1972, according to some sources. Over the ensuing years, there have been many unconfirmed reports, continuing through at least 2015, and likely beyond. The mountains of St. Lucia include some formidably inaccessible forested slopes, where it is conceivable that a population of furtive, nondescript birds, whose song is unknown, may persist undetected.
Semper’s Warbler
Leucopeza semperi
Endemic to St. Lucia. Possibly extinct.
Little is known about Semper’s Warbler, except that it inhabits or inhabited rain forest undergrowth and was fairly common before the introduction of the mongoose to St. Lucia in 1884. The mongoose introduction was intended to control the viper known as the Fer-de-Lance (Bothrox atrox). Suitable habitat remains intact, so if Semper’s Warbler has truly gone extinct the mongoose is the apparent cause.
Identification
A robust terrestrial warbler. Gray overall; paler on the throat and breast.
Semper’s Warbler, side view. (Museum specimen FMNH 26352, collected June 4, 1892.) © Field Museum of Natural History
Semper’s Warbler, ventral view. (Museum specimen FMNH 26352, collected June 4, 1892.) © Field Museum of Natural History
Semper’s Warbler, dorsal view. (Museum specimen FMNH 26352, collected June 4, 1892.) © Field Museum of Natural History
Voice. Unknown except for chattering alarm calls.
Notes
Monotypic species.
IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered.
References
BirdLife International. 2018. Leucopeza semperi (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22721873A126659400. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22721873A126659400.en. (Accessed November 7, 2019.)
Curson, J., D. Quinn, and D. Beadle. 1994. Warblers of the Americas: An Identification Guide. Houghton Mifflin, Boston.
Curson, J. 2019. Semper’s Warbler (Leucopeza semperi). In Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive (J. del Hoyo, A. Elliott, J. Sargatal, D.A. Christie, and E. de Juana, eds.). Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. https://www.hbw.com/node/61520. (Accessed November 7, 2019.)
Hume, J.P. 2017. Extinct Birds (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing PLC, London.
Oppel, S. 2016. Does the Semper’s Warbler still exist on St. Lucia? BirdsCaribbean. https://www.birdscaribbean.org/2016/06/does-the-sempers-warbler-still-exist-on-st-lucia/.
Raffaele, H., J. Wiley, O. Garrido, A. Keith, and J. Raffaele. 1998. A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J.