Bahama nuthatch
The Bahama nuthatch is a nuthatch endemic to the pine forests of Grand Bahama island in the Bahamas. It is usually considered a subspecies of the brown-headed nuthatch, although some authorities recognize it as a distinct species. It has some notable differences from its mainland counterpart, including a darker brown facial stripe, a longer bill, shorter wings, and a unique warbling call. Research using genetic markers indicates that both species likely diverged around 685,000 years ago.
It is critically endangered and may already be extinct. Due to its very restricted range, it is highly threatened by habitat destruction and degradation, fires, and hurricane damage. Invasive species may also play a role. A 2007 survey previously indicated that only about 23 individuals remained. The destruction wrought by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 led to fears that the bird was extinct until 2018 when two birds were found. However, the extremely destructive effects of Hurricane Dorian in 2019 are feared to have finally finished off whatever was left of the population, especially the historically significant destruction and dramatic saltwater flooding of the Bahamian pineyards from the lingering Category 5 storm.
