The Prairie Warbler is an extremely rare bird in Canada, occurring only in southern Ontario where there are likely fewer than 300 pairs. The only information on its population status comes from the Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario which shows little change in the probability of observation for the species between the two Atlas periods (1981/85-2001/05). However, extrapolating these now dated results to the current situation is difficult and, for this reason, it is considered that there are insufficient data to assess the population status of this species in Canada. In 1999, the Prairie Warbler was re-assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as Not at Risk (from Special Concern) because of its apparently stable population and the continued availability of its primary habitat (Sutherland and Harris 2007). A species of early-successional habitats, the Prairie Warbler was likely never common in Canada and probably existed only in rocky barrens with sparse, scrubby shrubs and sand dunes. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
The small Prairie Warbler population in Canada is at the extreme northern edge of its range and is disjunct from the main breeding population in the United States. Although COSEWIC reassessed this species as Not at Risk in 1999, the small population may be vulnerable if significant changes to its rocky barrens habitat occur (Sutherland and Harris 2007). The Prairie Warbler population in the United States is declining.
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.