Blackpoll Warbler
(Setophaga striata)

Summary

Picture of bird
© Jukka Jantunen (flickr.com/photos/jukka_jantunen)
For additional photos and vocalizations, visit Dendroica. (Link opens in a new window.)

The Blackpoll Warbler is widespread across the northern forested regions of Canada. Data are insufficient to determine its population status in Canada at this time. Available results from the Breeding Bird Survey suggest a large decrease in population since about 1970, but these results are not reliable due to poor coverage of the bulk of the breeding population, which is spread throughout the boreal forest. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.

Designations

Main designations for the species
DesignationStatusDateSubspecies, population
IUCN (Global)Near threatened2018 
Partners in Flight (North America)Common birds in steep decline2017 
Wild Species (Canada)Secure2015 
Bird Conservation Region StrategyPriority Species2013 

Population status

Geographic area or populationPopulation change relative to ~1970ReliabilityStatus in relation to goal
CanadaData DeficientData DeficientData Deficient
 

Population estimate

Geographic area or populationPopulation estimate
Canada5,000,000 - 50,000,000 adults
 

Distribution maps

 

Migration strategy, occurrence

Long-distance migrant

Responsibility for conservation

Geographic areaResponsibility based on % of global population
CanadaHigh

General nesting period in Canada

Nesting period starts between early June and mid-June and ends in early August, depending on the region. Before or after this period, the probability of an active nest is lower.
 

Conservation and management

Information on population trends for this species is lacking; more information to determine whether the suggested declines reflect the national population is needed. Although logging may introduce temporary disruption, habitat availability on both the wintering and breeding grounds appears to be generally unthreatened (DeLuca et al. 2013). However, increasing temperatures have caused the ecotone between the northern hardwood forest and montane spruce-fir forest to shift upward. If temperatures continue to increase, losses of high-elevation conifer habitat are predicted (DeLuca et al. 2013). Habitat loss may also occur along southern margins of the permafrost zone as tree cover loss due to the melting of permafrost may outweigh potential gains from post-fire regrowth (Helbig et al. 2016). The combination of Canada's high responsibility for the Blackpoll Warbler and poor survey coverage over much of its breeding range suggest that this species warrants extra attention.

 

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
Atlantic Northern ForestsAtlantic Northern Forests, sub-region and priority type: Quebec -- Conservation
Boreal Taiga PlainsBoreal Taiga Plains, sub-region and priority type: Prairie and Northern -- Other
Northwestern Interior ForestNorthwestern Interior Forest, sub-region and priority type: Pacific and Yukon -- Stewardship
Taiga Shield and Hudson PlainsTaiga Shield and Hudson Plains, sub-region and priority type: Prairie and Northern -- Other
Taiga Shield and Hudson PlainsTaiga Shield and Hudson Plains, sub-region and priority type: Quebec -- Stewardship
 

References