The Ferruginous Hawk breeds on the native grasslands of the Prairie provinces. The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) provides the only long-term data on the species in Canada; results suggest a moderate increase relative to 1970. This increase is mirrored by results from the Christmas Bird Count and the BBS at the continental scale. However, targeted surveys in Alberta suggest a decrease in that regional population. The national population is thus perhaps best assessed as showing a moderate increase relative to 1970, but with low reliability. In 2008, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada assessed Ferruginous Hawk as Threatened based the suspected decline at that time, the small size of the Canadian population, and its sensitivity to human disturbance (COSEWIC 2008d). The species was first assessed as Threatened in 1980, changed to Special Concern in 1995, then re-confirmed as Threatened in 2008 (COSEWIC 2008d). The Ferruginous Hawk is listed under the Species at Risk Act. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
The Ferruginous Hawk, a specialist predator, is strongly tied to natural grasslands in the southern Prairie provinces. Populations of Ferruginous Hawk fluctuate with populations of Richardson's ground squirrels, their primary prey (COSEWIC 2008d). Poisoning of ground squirrels may have adverse effects on some local populations. Over 80% of all natural grassland habitat has been converted to intensive agricultural uses since the arrival of Europeans (WWFC 1989). Ferruginous Hawks are also sensitive to disturbance around the nest; breeding success may be lower around active oil and gas wells (COSEWIC 2008d). Nest setbacks of 500m established after the hatching period could help prevent human disturbances (Ng et al. 2017). Wind turbines have also become a concern for the species due to their habitat preferences, the height at which the birds fly, and the potential for nest disturbances (Ng et al. 2017). 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.