The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) provides good coverage of the Golden-winged Warbler in Canada and is the most reliable long-term source of information despite some drawbacks in its methodology. For instance, BBS methods rely mainly on aural identification but hybrid Blue-winged and Golden-winged Warblers will sing either parental song. Nevertheless, BBS results suggest an overall increase in abundance of approximately 47% since the early 1970s. Population levels fluctuated widely within that time; annual indices show the peak in population in the 1990s (see Canada graph below), reflecting the range expansion that took place, largely in the northeast (McCracken 1994). This expansion continued northwestward in Manitoba and just into Saskatchewan (ECCC 2016, Buehler et al. 2007). The peak was followed by a sharp decline back to pre-1990 levels; the population has fluctuated since then but with little overall change in the most recent years. The Recovery Strategy's objective for Golden-winged Warbler is to, at minimum, maintain abundance (based on BBS levels from 2012). The Golden-winged Warbler is currently at an acceptable level relative to its national population goal (see Canada graph below). The species appears to be faring better in Canada than in the United States (~70% decrease; Smith, A.R., CWS, unpubl. results) and BBS results from throughout North America indicate a large decrease in the continental population.
Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis
