Landbirds include some of the most familiar and best-loved birds in Canada. But populations of this group, representing about 220 species of birds, have shown long-term declines over the last 30 years. Loss and degradation of wildlife habitat are believed to be the primary causes of these declines.

In response to concern for these birds, the Canadian Wildlife Service, with its mandate for migratory bird conservation, is working with partners to build a national landbird conservation program.

The goal of Partners in Flight – Canada (PIF) is to ensure the long-term viability of populations of native Canadian landbirds across their range of habitats. Implementation of this goal will occur at national, regional and local levels to help keep our common birds common. This approach will help prevent the addition of birds to the list of species at risk.

Work at the national level is overseen by the National Working Group. It includes representatives from government and non-government conservation agencies and regional PIF programs, and welcomes participation from industry, academia, and other interested stakeholders. Activities and products of the National Working Group support landbird conservation at international, national, regional and local levels. To date, these include the Framework for Landbird Conservation in Canada that provides the context for a Canadian landbird conservation program, the Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy which highlights existing surveys and discusses how to fill gaps in our knowledge of landbird populations, and the National Action Needs for Canadian Landbird Conservation which outlines priority research and monitoring needs for specific landbird species.

Scarlet Tanager


Chestnut-sided Warbler
Photos: J.R. Graham,
Parks Canada

Landbirds include hawks, eagles, and falcons; partridges, grouse, and quail; pigeons and doves; cuckoos; owls; nightjars; swifts and hummingbirds; kingfishers; woodpeckers; and passerines.