Primarily breeding in the United States, the Yellow-breasted Chat reaches Canada in the southern Prairie provinces, southern interior of British Columbia and southern Ontario. There is insufficient information to assess the national population status of this species due to the lack of reliable national trend data. However, in 2011, the small Southern Mountain population of the auricollis subspecies found in British Columbia was designated as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada, due to its small size and restricted distribution; it is now listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). The larger Prairie population of auricollis is Not at Risk (COSEWIC 2011c). The Ontario virens subspecies was first assessed as Special Concern but re-assessed as Endangered by COSEWIC in 2011 due to its very small and localized population and recent declines (COSEWIC 2011c). It was listed as such under SARA in 2017. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
The Yellow-breasted Chat probably increased in numbers as extensive logging and forest fragmentation occurred in the late 19th century (Eckerle and Thompson 2001). However, populations have decreased in some areas as mid-successional forest with thickets and understory have reverted to mature forest (Eckerle and Thompson 2001). The species is adapted to the exploitation of successional habitats (Eckerle and Thompson 2001). While the species will tolerate areas of open grass within territories, it does so only if dense shrubs occur close by (Johnston and Odum 1956, McKibbin and Bishop 2010). Loss of suitable habitat through successional changes, and deterioration of riparian habitats due to grazing (Eckerle and Thompson 2001), development, and roadside vegetation removal are all threats to the species (ECCC 2016a). The Multi-Species Action Plan for Point Pelee National Park and Niagara National Historic Site has a conservation and recovery measure to effectively manage for a minimum of 4 ha of suitable Yellow-breasted Chat virens habitat in Point Pelee National Park (Parks Canada Agency 2016c). As of 2016-2017, this goal has almost been met, with almost 4 ha cleared of overgrown shrubs and invasive plants, along with the planting of native forbs and grasses (T. Dobbie, pers. comm.). For information on the legal status of this species under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) and to view available Recovery documents, see the SARA Registry.
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.
