The Evening Grosbeak is a widespread and conspicuous inhabitant of Canada's coniferous and mixed forests. Results from the Breeding Bird Survey indicate an over 90% decrease in abundance since the early 1970s; the species is considered to be among the fastest declining landbirds (Rosenberg et al. 2016). Reasons for the population decline have not been well studied but are thought to have multiple causes (Bonter and Harvey 2008). In 2016, the Evening Grosbeak was assessed as Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada because of the long-term declines (COSEWIC 2016a). This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Originally a bird rarely seen east of the Mississippi River, the species now inhabits much of eastern North America. Range expansion was likely due to increased food supply offered by extensive box elder plantings and forest insect outbreaks (Gillihan and Byers 2001). Reasons for the recent population decrease are not well understood but probably stem from multiple causes, including large-scale forestry operations that affect forest age structure, disease, reduced food availability due to fewer forest insect infestations, collisions with windows, and collisions with cars since they tend to feed on grit and salt along roads in winter (Bonter and Harvey 2008, COSEWIC 2016a).
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.
