In Canada, the Rufous Hummingbird is a common breeding species throughout much of the Western Cordillera. Trends from the Breeding Bird Survey suggest a large decrease since about 1970. Causes of this long-term decline are unclear. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Reasons for apparent widespread declines are not well known. The species appears to be adjusting its migration routes and timing in response to climate change and may be expanding its north-western range (Courter et al. 2017). According to the National Audubon Society’s climate change model, the Rufous Hummingbird is one of the species projected to lose non-breeding range in the United States, with unknown impacts to its core winter range in Mexico (National Audubon Society 2015). The model also projects that the summer range will move northward. It is unclear how these range changes, along with changes to flowering phenology, will impact the species (National Audubon Society 2015). Ongoing targeted hummingbird banding and monitoring in British Columbia may provide additional population information in the future (Finlay 2007).
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.