The Harris's Sparrow is the only songbird species that breeds exclusively in Canada, where it nests in the mosaic of scattered trees and tundra in the transition zone between the boreal forest and arctic tundra. Its population is best monitored through the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) on its wintering grounds in the United States, data from which indicate a significant long-term decrease in abundance since 1970. In 2017, the Harris's Sparrow was assessed as a species of Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada because of the significant decline in abundance (COSEWIC 2017d). Hosting the entire global breeding population, Canada's responsibility for this species' conservation is very high. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
On the breeding grounds, the impact of forest fires can cause loss of nests, but can also have a positive influence by creating new habitat (COSEWIC 2017d) for Harris's Sparrow. The reduction and degradation of habitat as a logging and mine development, and the narrowing of the forest-tundra ecotone due to climate change are a concern (Norment et al. 2016, COSEWIC 2017d). On the wintering grounds, the conversion of grasslands to agriculture and potentially the effects of pesticides are considered factors in the decline of the species (COSEWIC 2017d).
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.
