Although still common and widespread, the Eastern Kingbird has shown a decrease across its range in North America. Breeding Bird Survey data show a significant decrease in the Canadian population relative to 1970. Causes for the decline remain unclear. This species has been identified as a priority for conservation and/or stewardship in one or more Bird Conservation Region Strategies in Canada.
Historically, European settlement likely benefited this species by opening up deciduous forests in the east, and increasing tree density and fencing in the prairies (Murphy 1996). However, habitat loss and degradation due to urbanization, intensive agriculture, and forest regeneration are likely contributing to the current decline in Eastern Kingbird populations (Murphy 1996). The Eastern Kingbird is one of several species of aerial-foraging insectivores showing widespread declines in Canada (Smith et al. 2015). Causes of these declines remain unclear, but changes in aerial insect populations from the use of neonicotinoids (Hallmann et al. 2014) have been suggested as one possible common factor.
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.