Lincoln's Sparrow is very abundant and widespread across Canada's boreal forest, with highest densities in the west and northern sub-boreal, boreal and subarctic regions. Results from the Breeding Bird Survey suggest little change in the population relative to about 1970, but covers only a portion of the range. With more than 80% of the global breeding population, Canada's responsibility for this species 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.
There appear to be few urgent conservation concerns for this species. As a bird of early succession shrub and bog habitats, it is unlikely that forest management activities will be overly detrimental to the species (Erskine 1992) and, in fact may benefit them. Indeed, numbers are likely now higher than before European settlement due to the opening of forest edges, clear-cutting with subsequent shrubby growth and the return to shrubby growth following farmland abandonment (Ammon 1995).
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.