Baird's Sparrow
(Ammodramus bairdii)

Summary

Picture of bird
© Alan MacKeigan
For additional photos and vocalizations, visit Dendroica. (Link opens in a new window.)

The Baird's Sparrow breeds in native grasslands in the southern prairie provinces. Because of its nomadic, cross-border nature (Green et al. 2002), changes in the North American population are the most appropriate measure to assess this species' population status in Canada. Its population shows strong fluctuations with an overall large decrease in the North American population since the mid-1960s and in Canada since 1970. In both cases, while the year-to-year variability has continued, there has been no discernible further decrease since about 2000. Baird's Sparrow was re-assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) in 2012 and its status was revised to Special Concern (from Not At Risk) based on habitat loss and subsequent population decline. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.

Designations

Listing of the main designations for the species
DesignationStatusDateSubspecies, population
COSEWIC (Canada)Special Concern2012 
SARA (Canada)No Status  
IUCN (Global)Least Concern2012 
Partners in Flight (North America)Stewardship List, Watch List Species2012 
Wild Species (Canada)Secure2010 
Partners in Flight (Tri-National Vision)High Tri-National Concern2012 
Bird Conservation Region StrategyPriority Species2013 

Population status

Geographic areaStatusReliability
CanadaLarge DecreaseHigh
 

Population estimate

Canada500,000 to 5,000,000 adults
 

Distribution maps

 

Migration strategy, occurrence

Short-distance migrant

Responsibility for conservation of world population

CanadaHigh

Conservation and management

The Baird's Sparrow is found in large tracts of native grassland. Because of large-scale conversion of these habitats to agricultural crops since the beginning of European settlement, populations are undoubtedly much lower than pre-settlement populations (Green et al. 2002). Habitat loss and degradation continue. The species is area sensitive (Davis 2004). Prescribed burning programs may be beneficial in moist portions of the species' range since fire removes dense shrub cover. Haying generally decreases habitat quality; acceptable grazing intensity varies with moisture conditions (Green et al. 2002). For information on the legal status of this species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) see the SARA Registry.

 

Bird conservation region strategies

Environment and Climate Change Canada and partners have developed Bird Conservation Region Strategies in each of Canada’s Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs). In these strategies, selected species are identified as priorities for one or more of the following reasons:

  • conservation concerns (i.e., species vulnerable due to population size, distribution, population trend, abundance, or threats)
  • stewardship responsibilities (i.e., species that typify the regional avifauna or have a large proportion of their range or population in the sub-region)
  • management concerns (i.e., species that require ongoing management because of their socio-economic importance as game species, or because of their impacts on other species or habitats)
  • other concerns (i.e., species deemed a priority by regional experts for other reasons than those listed above or because they are listed as species at risk or concern at the provincial level)

Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.

BCRs, marine biogeographic units, and sub-regions in which the species is listed as a priority
RegionSub-region and priority type
Prairie PotholesPrairie Potholes, sub-region and priority type: Prairie and Northern Region
 

References