The Williamson's Sapsucker breeds in the mountains of southern interior British Columbia, where it is largely restricted to mature forests of western larch. There are no long-term population monitoring data for this species in Canada, but the population is believed to have decreased since about 1970 due to the loss of its specialised habitat (COSEWIC 2005, ECCC 2016c). The Williamson's Sapsucker was listed as Endangered in Canada under the Species at Risk Act in 2006 because of its small population size and continued habitat loss; it was reassessed as such in 2017 by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC 2005, ECCC 2016c). This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
In Canada, the Williamson's Sapsucker is strongly associated with mature western larch forests, and the availability of this habitat is thought to limit its distribution and population (Cannings et al. 1987, Gyug et al. 2012, COSEWIC 2005). Habitat loss from logging is thought to be the main threat to the species in Canada (van Gils et al. 2016). New survey techniques, perhaps based on call/drum playbacks, are needed to effectively monitor Williamson's Sapsucker population trends (Gyug et al. 2012). 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.