Savannah Sparrow    Passerculus sandwichensis

Conservation Status

General Status in Canada : Secure

COSEWIC Status : Special concern

Breeding Bird Surveys indicate that North American populations have slightly declined over their range between 1966 and 2007. However population changes have been highly variable from region to region. Savannah Sparrows prefer open habitats, therefore in areas where fields are lost to urban encroachment, numbers have been decreasing. Changes in agricultural practices such as converting grazing land to cultivated fields have also been detrimental to the species. In boreal regions, populations are likely stable or perhaps increasing as forested areas are cleared by harvesting, or oil and gas exploration, but further study is required to verify that effect. In general, the Savannah Sparrow appears to be a relatively adaptive species and will nest in most open areas, even those that are heavily impacted by development.

Reference(s)

Wheelwright, N. T., and J. D. Rising. 2008. Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis), The Birds of North America Online, . A. Poole, Ed. Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology; Retrieved from The Birds of North America Online database: http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/045