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Alaska Species Ranking System

The Alaska Species Ranking System (ASRS) is a prioritization tool that assesses the conservation status of native vertebrates in Alaska. It was developed in collaboration with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Threatened, Endangered, and Diversity (TED) Program. The goal of the ASRS is to provide detailed information on the conservation needs of Alaska’s wildlife to help the TED Program and their partners set priorities for wildlife conservation and inform Alaska’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). The ASRS provides an objective way to rank all native vertebrates through a lens that is specific to Alaska, which helps to identify those that require the most focus in the SWAP. Such taxa are called Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). 

The ASRS was initially developed in the mid-2000s. In 2012, the first version of the ASRS was released. Ranks have been regularly updated since then and there have been changes to the ranking system as well. In 2022, staff at ACCS and ADF&G used updated ranks to assess the conservation status of small mammal species in Alaska. In 2025, the ranking system was revised; the ranks shown here reflect the most recent changes. Please fill out a Data Request Form if you would like a copy of the ASRS assessment for one or more taxa.

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Color Rank Definitions

View By Species Group

icon for amphibian assessments Amphibians
icon for seabird assessments Seabirds
icon for waterfowl assessments Waterfowl
icon for shorebird assessments Shorebirds
icon for raptor assessments Raptors
icon for landbird assessments Landbirds
icon for small mammal assessments Small Mammals
icon for bat assessments Bats
icon for marine mammal assessments Marine Mammals
icon for medium mammals assessments Medium Mammals
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Search By Species Name

Common NameScientific NameColor RankNumerical RankStatus ScoreBiological Score% Global Population
Alder FlycatcherEmpidonax alnorumRedII6-32<25%
Aleutian TernOnychoprion aleuticusRedII6-21<25%
American DipperCinclus mexicanusYellowIV0-38<25%
American Golden-PloverPluvialis dominicaYellowIV0-3325-74%
American PipitAnthus rubescensRedII6-32<25%
American RedstartSetophaga ruticillaOrangeIII0-14<25%
American Three-Toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalisYellowIV0-28<25%
American Tree SparrowSpizelloides arboreaYellowIV0-3925-74%
Arctic FoxVulpes lagopusBlueVI-11-24<25%
Arctic LoonGavia arcticaOrangeIII0-10<25%
Arctic TernSterna paradisaeaYellowIV0-34<25%
Arctic WarblerPhylloscopus borealisYellowIV0-32<25%
Bank SwallowRiparia ripariaRedII16-32<25%
Bar-Tailed Godwit (baueri)Limosa lapponica baueriRedI10-12Endemic
Barn SwallowHirundo rusticaRedII12-20<25%
Black GuillemotCepphus grylleRedI1020<25%
Black OystercatcherHaematopus bachmaniOrangeIII01125-74%
Black SwiftCypseloides nigerRedI611<25%
Black-Backed WoodpeckerPicoides arcticusYellowIV0-18<25%
Black-Bellied PloverPluvialis squatarolaYellowIV0-20Unknown
Black-Capped ChickadeePoecile atricapillusBlueVI-6-38<25%
Black-Footed AlbatrossPhoebastria nigripesBlueV6-1425-74%
Black-Legged KittiwakeRissa tridactylaRedII5-2025-74%
Blackpoll WarblerSetophaga striataRedII10-36<25%
BluethroatLuscinia svecicaYellowIV0-32<25%
Bohemian WaxwingBombycilla garrulusRedII6-28<25%
Boreal ChickadeePoecile hudsonicusBlueVI-6-35<25%
BramblingFringilla montifringillaOrangeIII016<25%
Bristle-Thighed CurlewNumenius tahitiensisYellowIV0-22≥75%
Brown CreeperCerthia americanaYellowIV0-26<25%
Brown Creeper (alascensis)Certhia americana alascensisOrangeIII0-16Endemic
Buff-Breasted SandpiperCalidris subruficollisRedI12-12<25%
Buller's ShearwaterArdenna bulleriOrangeIII0-13<25%
Canada JayPerisoreus canadensisRedII6-38<25%
Cassin's AukletPtychoramphus aleuticusBlueVI4-22<25%
Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorumRedII1-35.5<25%
Chestnut-Backed ChickadeePoecile rufescensBlueVI-6-2625-74%
Common MurreUria aalgeBlueV-11-10<25%
Common Raven (kamtschaticus)Corvus corax kamtschaticusYellowIV0-18<25%
Dark-Eyed JuncoJunco hyemalisBlueVI-6-3625-74%
DunlinCalidris alpinaRedII5-3025-74%
Dunlin, ArcticCalidris alpina arcticolaRedI16-16≥75%
Dunlin, PacificCalidris alpina pacificaBlueV-11-16Endemic
Fork-Tailed Storm-Petrel (furcatus)Hydrobates furcatus furcatusBlueV4-14≥75%
Fork-Tailed Storm-Petrel (plumbeus)Hydrobates furcatus plumbeusYellowIV0-28<25%
Fox SparrowPasserella iliacaBlueVI-6-3825-74%
Fox Sparrow, Chilkat SootyPasserella iliaca chilcatensisYellowIV0-20Endemic
Fox Sparrow, KodiakPasserella iliaca insularisOrangeIII0-8Endemic
Fox Sparrow, ShumaginPasserella iliaca unalaschcensisYellowIV0-20Endemic
Fox Sparrow, Townsend'sPasserella iliaca townsendiBlueVI-6-20≥75%
Fox Sparrow, ValdezPasserella iliaca sinuosaYellowIV0-20Endemic
Fox Sparrow, YakutatPasserella iliaca annectensOrangeIII0-14Endemic
Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreusBlueVI-10-3225-74%
Glaucous-Winged GullLarus glaucescensYellowIV0-2925-74%
Golden-Crowned KingletRegulus satrapaYellowIV0-25<25%
Golden-Crowned SparrowZonotrichia atricapillaYellowIV0-38≥75%
Gray-Cheeked ThrushCatharus minimusRedII6-4425-74%
Gray-Crowned Rosy-FinchLeucosticte tephrocotisYellowIV0-20Unknown
Gray-Headed Chickadee (lathami)Poecile cinctus lathamiRedII12-20Unknown
Gray-Tailed TattlerTringa brevipesOrangeIII0-5<25%
Great Gray OwlStrix nebulosaYellowIV0-20<25%
Greater YellowlegsTringa melanoleucaYellowIV0-3625-74%
Hermit ThrushCatharus guttatusBlueVI-11-39<25%
Herring GullLarus argentatusOrangeIII0-10<25%
Horned LarkEremophila alpestrisRedII6-28<25%
Horned PuffinFratercula corniculataYellowIV0-22≥75%
Iceland Gull (Includes Thayer's)Larus glaucoidesOrangeIII0-5Unknown
Ivory GullPagophila eburneaRedI10-6<25%
KilldeerCharadrius vociferusRedII6-20<25%
Kittlitz's MurreletBrachyramphus brevirostrisBlueVI-3-2625-74%
Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicusRedII6-38Unknown
Laysan AlbatrossPhoebastria immutabilisBlueV4-1425-74%
Leach's Storm-Petrel (leucorhous)Hydrobates leucorhous leucorhousRedII0-2625-74%
Least SandpiperCalidris minutillaRedII6-3325-74%
Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipesRedII10-3625-74%
Long-Billed DowitcherLimnodromus scolopaceusYellowIV0-36Unknown
Long-Tailed JaegerStercorarius longicaudusOrangeIII0-16<25%
Macgillivray's WarblerGeothlypis tolmieiOrangeIII0-9<25%
Marbled Godwit (beringiae)Limosa fedoa beringiaeOrangeIII04Endemic
Marbled MurreletBrachyramphus marmoratusBlueVI-5-34≥75%
Mckay's BuntingPlectrophenax hyperboreusOrangeIII0-2Endemic
Mottled PetrelPterodroma inexpectataYellowIV0-26.5<25%
Northern FulmarFulmarus glacialisRedI110<25%
Northern Hawk-OwlSurnia ululaYellowIV0-22<25%
Northern ShrikeLanius borealisRedII6-2625-74%
Northern WheatearOenanthe oenantheYellowIV0-28<25%
Olive-Sided FlycatcherContopus cooperiRedII16-32<25%
Orange-Crowned WarblerLeiothlypis celataYellowIV0-3125-74%
Pacific Golden-PloverPluvialis fulvaYellowIV0-30<25%
Pacific WrenTroglodytes pacificusYellowIV0-3625-74%
Pacific Wren, AttuTroglodytes pacificus meligerusOrangeIII08Endemic
Pacific Wren, KiskaTroglodytes pacificus kiskensisOrangeIII00Endemic
Pacific Wren, KodiakTroglodytes pacificus helleriOrangeIII0-14Endemic
Pacific Wren, PribilofTroglodytes pacificus alascensisOrangeIII010Endemic
Pacific Wren, SemidiTroglodytes pacificus semidiensisOrangeIII012Endemic
Parakeet AukletAethia psittaculaYellowIV0-2825-74%
Parasitic JaegerStercorarius parasiticusYellowIV0-27.2Unknown
Pectoral SandpiperCalidris melanotosRedII10-3025-74%
Pelagic CormorantUrile pelagicusYellowIV0-1725-74%
Pigeon GuillemotCepphus columbaRedII8-3425-74%
Pine GrosbeakPinicola enucleatorBlueVI-6-44<25%
Pine SiskinSpinus pinusBlueVI-6-36<25%
Pink-Footed ShearwaterPuffinus creatopusOrangeIII0-11<25%
Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinusOrangeIII00<25%
Red CrossbillLoxia curvirostraYellowIV0-32<25%
Red Knot, PacificCalidris canutus roselaariRedI6225-74%
Red PhalaropePhalaropus fulicariusRedII6-3625-74%
Red-Breasted SapsuckerSphyrapicus ruberBlueVI-10-1925-74%
Red-Faced CormorantUrile urileRedI6-11Unknown
Red-Legged KittiwakeRissa brevirostrisBlueV-34≥75%
Red-Necked PhalaropePhalaropus lobatusRedII6-3325-74%
Red-Necked StintCalidris ruficollisOrangeIII02<25%
Red-Throated LoonGavia stellataRedII6-22<25%
Red-Throated PipitAnthus cervinusOrangeIII02<25%
Red-Winged BlackbirdAgelaius phoeniceusRedII6-20<25%
RedpollAcanthis flammeaRedII6-38<25%
Rock Ptarmigan, Evermann'sLagopus muta evermanniRedI12-11Endemic
Rock Ptarmigan, Townsend'sLagopus muta townsendiOrangeIII01Endemic
Rock Ptarmigan, Turner'sLagopus muta atkhensisOrangeIII011Endemic
Rock Sandpiper, AleutianCalidris ptilocnemis couesiYellowIV0-24Endemic
Rock Sandpiper, Bering SeaCalidris ptilocnemis tschuktschorumYellowIV0-24≥75%
Rock Sandpiper, PribilofCalidris ptilocnemis ptilocnemisOrangeIII04Endemic
Ross's GullRhodostethia roseaYellowIV0-38.2≥75%
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (calendula)Corthylio calendula calendulaYellowIV0-32<25%
Ruby-Crowned Kinglet (grinnelli)Corthylio calendula grinnelliBlueVI-6-2025-74%
Ruddy TurnstoneArenaria interpresYellowIV0-34<25%
Rufous HummingbirdSelasphorus rufusRedII10-24<25%
Rusty BlackbirdEuphagus carolinusBlueVI-11-38<25%
Sabine's GullXema sabiniBlueVI-10-32<25%
SanderlingCalidris albaOrangeIII0-8<25%
Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensisRedII6-38<25%
Semipalmated SandpiperCalidris pusillaBlueVI-6-40<25%
Short-Billed Dowitcher (caurinus)Limnodromus griseus caurinusRedII6-36≥75%
Short-Billed GullLarus brachyrhynchusYellowIV0-3425-74%
Short-Tailed ShearwaterPuffinus tenuirostrisRedII6-30Unknown
Slaty-Backed GullLarus schistisagusOrangeIII020<25%
Smith's LongspurCalcarius pictusYellowIV0-26<25%
Snow BuntingPlectrophenax nivalisRedII6-36<25%
Snow Bunting (townsendi)Plectrophenax nivalis townsendiYellowIV0-18≥75%
Solitary Sandpiper (cinnamomea)Tringa solitaria cinnamomeaBlueVI3-24≥75%
Song Sparrow, AleutianMelospiza melodia sanakaOrangeIII0-14Endemic
Song Sparrow, BischoffMelospiza melodia insignisYellowIV0-20Unknown
Song Sparrow, GiantMelospiza melodia maximaYellowIV0-20Endemic
Song Sparrow, KenaiMelospiza melodia kenaiensisOrangeIII0-14Endemic
Song Sparrow, SootyMelospiza melodia rufinaYellowIV0-20≥75%
Song Sparrow, YakutatMelospiza melodia caurinaOrangeIII0-14Unknown
Sooty ShearwaterPuffinus griseusRedII6-26<25%
Spotted SandpiperActitis maculariusBlueVI-6-3725-74%
Spruce GrouseCanachites canadensisRedII0-32<25%
Stilt SandpiperCalidris himantopusRedII6-24<25%
SurfbirdCalidris virgataYellowIV0-17≥75%
Thick-Billed MurreUria lomviaBlueV-11-1025-74%
Townsend'S WarblerSetophaga townsendiBlueVI-6-3025-74%
Tree SwallowTachycineta bicolorRedII16-32<25%
Tufted PuffinFratercula cirrhataYellowIV0-22≥75%
Upland SandpiperBartramia longicaudaYellowIV0-30<25%
Varied ThrushIxoreus naeviusBlueVI-6-3525-74%
Vaux's SwiftChaetura vauxiRedI66<25%
Violet-Green SwallowTachycineta thalassinaYellowIV0-44<25%
Wandering TattlerTringa incanaYellowIV0-2425-74%
Western SandpiperCalidris mauriRedII6-24≥75%
Western Wood-PeweeContopus sordidulusRedII10-30<25%
WhimbrelNumenius phaeopusYellowIV0-3625-74%
Whiskered AukletAethia pygmaeaBlueV2-16≥75%
White-Crowned SparrowZonotrichia leucophrysRedII1-2425-74%
Willow PtarmiganLagopus lagopusRedII5-32<25%
Wilson's SnipeGallinago delicataYellowIV0-36<25%
Wilson's WarblerCardellina pusillaYellowIV0-3225-74%
Wood SandpiperTringa glareolaOrangeIII0-1<25%
Yellow-Billed LoonGavia adamsiiRedI66<25%
Yellow-Rumped WarblerSetophaga coronataYellowIV0-39<25%

Looking for more?

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