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The Canvasback is the largest diving duck species in North America. It is also one of the least abundant species in Canada. The core breeding area of the Canvasback is in the Prairie and Parklands region of the Prairie Provinces. The national population declined during the 1980s as a result of the prolonged drought in the Prairies. Since then, the population rebounded and has now slightly surpassed the level seen in the 1970s. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Conservation of wetlands habitat in Prairies is an important conservation concern since much of the variation in this species abundance is due to changes in water levels, which impact the number of wetland breeding habitats. Coastal development and reduced water quality on wintering areas are believed to be factors that can reduce the size of Canvasback populations. In addition, the Canvasback is often parasitized by Redheads laying eggs in their nests. Parasitized nests are often deserted, thereby affecting Canvasback nesting success and reproduction. In Canada, Canvasbacks are mostly harvested in the Prairie Provinces; there are harvest restrictions in British Columbia and Manitoba.
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:
Select any of the sub-regions below to view the BCR strategy for additional details.