Population status

Northern Rough-winged Swallow
(Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

The most reliable source of information for the Northern Rough-winged Swallow is the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), which provides good coverage of the breeding population concentrated across southern Canada. BBS results indicate a large, long-term decrease in abundance since 1970 throughout the species' Canadian range, including in the west where population abundance is highest. The continental population has remained relatively unchanged over the same time period. Results for all Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) that host the species in Canada and for which there are reasonably reliable results are shown below. Like most other swallow species in Canada, the Northern Rough-winged Swallow is below the lowest acceptable level relative to its national population goal (see Canada graph below). In this case, the species dropped below acceptable levels in the late 1980s.

 

Population goal and acceptable levels of variation

Species/groupGoalLower levelUpper level
Northern Rough-winged SwallowMean abundance (first 5 years of survey)Goal 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 analysis1970-2016-1.7-3.1-0.4
Canada Select to view graph of the geographic area: Canada 2006-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis2006-2016-2.2-10.73
Northern Pacific Rainforest Select to view graph of the geographic area: Northern Pacific Rainforest 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2016-2.2-4.30.2
Great Basin Select to view graph of the geographic area: Great Basin 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2016-3.4-5-1.8
Northern Rockies Select to view graph of the geographic area: Northern Rockies 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2016-1.4-30.5
Boreal Hardwood Transition Select to view graph of the geographic area: Boreal Hardwood Transition 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2016-2.2-4.90.5
Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain Select to view graph of the geographic area: Lower Great Lakes / St. Lawrence Plain 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2016-2.3-3.6-1.1
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2016-0.4-0.90
 

References