Population status

Swainson's Hawk
(Buteo swainsoni)

The most reliable long-term population trend data for the Swainson's Hawk in Canada comes from the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS). BBS results indicate that the Canadian population has been relatively stable or slightly increasing since 1970. Results from throughout North America suggest an increase of about 63% of the continental population. The Swainson's Hawk's national population abundance was unacceptably low when monitoring began, as a result of persecution (Farmer et al. 2008). Because the historical abundance of the species remains unknown, a specific management goal has not yet been set. However, with a relatively stable population trend, the Swainson's Hawk's current population is at an acceptable level (see BBS Canada graph below).

 

Population goal and acceptable levels of variation

Species/groupGoalLower levelUpper level
Swainson's HawkTo be determined95th percentile of observed abundance (1970-2012)
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 analysis1970-20160.3-0.30.9
Canada Select to view graph of the geographic area: Canada 2006-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis2006-20160.6-0.72.2
Boreal Taiga Plains Select to view graph of the geographic area: Boreal Taiga Plains 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-2016-0.6-32.2
Prairie Potholes Select to view graph of the geographic area: Prairie Potholes 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20160.3-0.30.9
North America Select to view graph of the geographic area: North America 1970-2016; Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis1970-20161.10.81.4
 

References