Species of Greatest Conservation Need

The Idaho State Wildlife Action Plan provides a framework for conserving Species of Greatest Conservation Need and the habitats upon which they depend. It is the state’s guiding document for managing and conserving at-risk species. An integrated approach to implementing this strategy across all Fish and Game programs will reduce potential listings under the Endangered Species Act.

Update (9/28/2016): The Idaho State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) has been submitted to the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service for review. This is a list of species included in the 2016 revision.


37 taxa
Scientific Name Common Name SGCN State Rank Global Rank
Aechmophorus clarkii Clark's Grebe Tier 2 S2B G5
Aechmophorus occidentalis Western Grebe Tier 2 S2B G5
Ammodramus savannarum Grasshopper Sparrow Tier 3 S3B G5
Aquila chrysaetos Golden Eagle Tier 2 S3 G5
Artemisiospiza nevadensis Sagebrush Sparrow Tier 2 S3B G5
Asio flammeus Short-eared Owl Tier 3 S3 G5
Athene cunicularia Burrowing Owl Tier 2 S2B G4
Botaurus lentiginosus American Bittern Tier 2 S1B G4
Buteo regalis Ferruginous Hawk Tier 2 S3B G4
Centrocercus urophasianus Greater Sage-Grouse Tier 1 S3 G3G4
Chlidonias niger Black Tern Tier 2 S2B G4
Chordeiles minor Common Nighthawk Tier 3 S4B G5
Coccyzus americanus Yellow-billed Cuckoo Tier 1 S1B G5
Contopus cooperi Olive-sided Flycatcher Tier 3 S3B G4
Cygnus buccinator Trumpeter Swan Tier 2 S1B,S4N G4
Cypseloides niger Black Swift Tier 2 S1B G4
Dolichonyx oryzivorus Bobolink Tier 2 S2B G5
Gavia immer Common Loon Tier 2 S1B,S2N G5
Grus canadensis Sandhill Crane Tier 3 S3B G5
Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus Pinyon Jay Tier 2 S3 G5
Histrionicus histrionicus Harlequin Duck Tier 2 S1B G4
Hydroprogne caspia Caspian Tern Tier 2 Breeding population only S1B G5
Larus californicus California Gull Tier 2 Breeding population only S3B, S2N G5
Larus delawarensis Ring-billed Gull Tier 3 Breeding population only S2B,S2N G5
Leucophaeus pipixcan Franklin's Gull Tier 3 S3B G4G5
Leucosticte atrata Black Rosy-Finch Tier 3 S2 G4
Loxia sinesciuris Cassia Crossbill Tier 2 S1
Melanerpes lewis Lewis's Woodpecker Tier 2 S3B G4
Nucifraga columbiana Clark's Nutcracker Tier 3 S2 G5
Numenius americanus Long-billed Curlew Tier 2 S2B G5
Oreortyx pictus Mountain Quail Tier 2 S2 G5
Oreoscoptes montanus Sage Thrasher Tier 2 S3B G5
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos American White Pelican Tier 2 S3B G4
Picoides albolarvatus White-headed Woodpecker Tier 3 S2 G4
Plegadis chihi White-faced Ibis Tier 2 S2B G5
Strix nebulosa Great Gray Owl Tier 3 S3 G5
Tympanuchus phasianellus Sharp-tailed Grouse Tier 2 S3 G5