Population status

House Sparrow
(Passer domesticus)

The most reliable source of information on population changes in the House Sparrow in Canada is the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) which indicates that populations have experienced a large and steady decrease since 1970. Population sizes are now estimated to be about 80% lower than in 1970. The trend has been relatively consistent across the broad range of Canadian Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs; all BCRs with highly reliable trends displayed below), as well as throughout the United States, as indicated by the continental BBS results. The trend has remained negative in Canada during the most recent decade.

 

Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis

Table 1: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic areaTime Period Table 1 - footnote 1 Annual trend Table 1 - footnote 2 Intervals Table 1 - footnote3
LowerUpper
Canada Select to view graph of the geographic area: Canada 1970-2012; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2012-3.9-4.5-3.1
Northern Pacific Rainforest Select to view graph of the geographic area: Northern Pacific Rainforest 1970-2012; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20121.3-0.32.8
Great Basin Select to view graph of the geographic area: Great Basin 1970-2012; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2012-3.3-5.3-1.2
Prairie Potholes Select to view graph of the geographic area: Prairie Potholes 1970-2012; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2012-3.5-4.1-2.9
Boreal Hardwood Transition Select to view graph of the geographic area: Boreal Hardwood Transition 1970-2012; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2012-5.3-6.6-4
Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain Select to view graph of the geographic area: Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain 1970-2012; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2012-3.9-4.5-3.3
Atlantic Northern Forest Select to view graph of the geographic area: Atlantic Northern Forest 1970-2012; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2012-8-8.9-7.1
 

Breeding Bird Survey in North America (BBS) - U.S. analyses

Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey in North America (BBS) - U.S. analyses

Table 2: Population trends by geographic area
Geographic areaTime PeriodAnnual trend Table 2 - footnote 1 Limits
LowerUpper
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 1966-2012; Breeding Bird Survey in North America (BBS) - U.S. analyses1966-2012-3.7-3.9-3.5
 

References