Endemic species are those confined to a specific geographic area, often an isolated location such as an island (think Hawaii and Indonesia) or a mountain range (like in eastern Brazil).
While some endemic species are thriving (visit the southeastern US to hear plenty of Fish Crows), others like the Florida Scrub-Jay are in decline due to habitat loss and other factors.
Because endemic species are often found in just a few locations which meet their specific needs, successfully protecting the bird usually means conserving or restoring its unique habitat. One success story is the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, which was recently downlisted from endangered to threatened as a result of a coordinated conservation program that encouraged private landholders to protect their habitat.