Population status

Cedar Waxwing
(Bombycilla cedrorum)

The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is the most reliable source of data for the Cedar Waxwing and, in general, indicates a moderate increase in the population since 1970 in both Canada and across the continent. However, the BBS annual indices show a population with substantial annual fluctuations, likely due to a combination of the species' flocking behaviour, lack of territoriality, and late breeding season (Witmer et al. 1997). These factors may result in variable counts across years with differing phenology (i.e., early or late start of nesting due to weather). BBS annual indices indicate that the population increase has followed a non-linear pattern, increasing steadily until the mid-1990s when, despite continuing large fluctuations, the trend levelled off. The most recent period (2006-2016) shows little overall change in the population. At the regional level, results vary from declines of more than 45% in the Northern Pacific Rainforest and Great Basin Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs), to large increases in the Atlantic Northern Forest and Boreal Taiga Plains BCRs, and smaller increases in the Prairie Potholes and Lower Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Plain BCRs. The Cedar Waxwing population is at an acceptable level relative to its national population goal (see Canada graph below).

 

Population goal and acceptable levels of variation

Species/groupGoalLower levelUpper level
Cedar WaxwingMean abundance (2008-2012)Mean long-term abundance (1970-2012) minus 25%Not applicable

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 Limits
LowerUpper
Canada Select to view graph of the geographic area: Canada 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20160.70.21.2
Canada Select to view graph of the geographic area: Canada 2006-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis2006-20161.2-16.5
Northern Pacific Rainforest Select to view graph of the geographic area: Northern Pacific Rainforest 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2016-1.6-2.9-0.3
Boreal Taiga Plains Select to view graph of the geographic area: Boreal Taiga Plains 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20161.70.13.2
Great Basin Select to view graph of the geographic area: Great Basin 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2016-1.4-2.80.1
Northern Rockies Select to view graph of the geographic area: Northern Rockies 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20161-0.72.5
Prairie Potholes Select to view graph of the geographic area: Prairie Potholes 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20161-0.22.2
Boreal Hardwood Transition Select to view graph of the geographic area: Boreal Hardwood Transition 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2016-0.2-10.5
Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain1970-20161.10.22
Atlantic Northern Forest Select to view graph of the geographic area: Atlantic Northern Forest 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20163.12.14.1
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20160.80.41.1
 

References