The White-crowned Sparrow is an abundant species of Canada's northern and western forests, shrubby tundra, subalpine areas, and open grassy habitats. Data from the Breeding Bird Survey suggest that this species has shown a moderate decrease in population since 1970, though coverage of the species' range is poor and the reliability of this assessment is considered low. There are currently few known conservation concerns for this abundant and widely distributed species. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
There are currently few known conservation concerns for this abundant and widely distributed species. However, inclement weather is associated with substantial nestling mortality and nest abandonment, and winter survival is especially dependent on availability of food, water, and cover (Chilton et al. 1995). Climate change may be a concern for the White-crowned Sparrow, especially in the northern extent of its breeding range where unseasonably high snow cover and low temperatures have impacted breeding birds (Krause et al. 2016).
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.