In Canada, the McCown's Longspur breeds in dry grasslands in the southern prairie provinces. Breeding Bird Survey data indicate a dramatic, long-term decrease in the Canadian population, with an estimated 96% loss of abundance since the early 1970s. Significant declines have also occurred in the United States. In 2006, the species was listed as Special Concern under the Species at Risk Act. In 2016, the Committee on the Status of Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) recommended the status be up-listed to Threatened because of the substantial and continuing decline, which is mainly due to continuing loss and degradation of its grassland habitat on both its wintering and breeding grounds (COSEWIC 2016). This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
The primary cause of their declining population is thought to be the loss and degradation of habitat resulting from conversion of native grasslands to agriculture (With 1994, Environment Canada 2014). McCown's Longspurs prefer very dry, short grassland and can usually tolerate heavy grazing pressure (With 1994). They also use croplands though the species uses conventional till and spring-planted crops more than minimum-till and fall-sown crops. Birds that breed in minimum-till crops may have higher productivity (Martin and Forsyth 2003). Other threats facing McCown's Longspur include agricultural effluents, oil and gas drilling, renewable energy and the associated habitat fragmentation from linear access corridors (COSEWIC 2016). There is growing evidence that habitat loss on the species' wintering grounds, especially in Northern Mexico, may have contributed to declines (Pool et al. 2013). 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.