The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is best monitored at the national scale by the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), though the northern portion of the population is not well covered. Results suggest that there has been an estimated 94% increase in abundance since about 1970. At the regional level, the results from Bird Conservation Regions (BCRs) all indicate substantial increases in abundance with the exception of the Atlantic Northern Forest BCR, where abundance has decreased (all BCRs with reasonably reliable results are displayed below). However, the Maritimes Breeding Bird Atlas suggests little change in the probability of observation of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker between the first and second atlas (Villard and LaPointe 2015). Approximately half of this species' wintering range is covered by the Christmas Bird Count (CBC); birds breeding in both the United States and Canada are included though almost 80% of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers breed in Canada. CBC results suggest that the continental population of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has changed little since the early 1970s. Relying mainly on the BBS, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is perhaps best assessed as having shown a moderate increase in abundance since the early 1970s, though the lack of good coverage and the differing survey results means the reliability of this assessment is considered medium. The species is at an acceptable level relative to its national population goal (see BBS Canada graph below).
Additional information on: Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) - Canadian analysis
Additional information on: Christmas Bird Count (CBC)