The most reliable source of population data for this species is the American Woodcock Singing Ground Survey, a species-specific survey that tracks the number of singing males at fixed routes each spring. Results vary somewhat by province, but consistently show long-term moderate decreases except in Manitoba, where there has been little change. The long-term decreases of 49% in Ontario (accounting for the majority of the Central population) and 32% in Quebec (accounting for the majority of the Eastern population) are comparable to the trend of -38% over the same period based on the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), which largely samples the same range and has similarly high precision, although is considered less reliable because the detectability of American Woodcock is lower at the time of the BBS. The long-term continental Christmas Bird Count (CBC) trend of -45% is also very similar, and is presumed to largely reflect the Canadian population, as it comprises nearly three-quarters of the global total.

The goal for each of the regional populations and for the national population of American Woodcock is to increase to the levels they were at in the early 1970s. For the national population this is based on the Breeding Bird Survey, which is the most reliable population-wide data source. For the Central population, the goal is based on the Ontario results from the American Woodcock Singing-Ground Survey, whereas the Quebec results are used as the basis for the Eastern population. In all cases, the populations are below their goal ranges and continuing to decline. Despite this, analysis of recent trends and potential growth rates suggests that the eastern and national populations could reach their goals by 2050, and that the central population could reach 90% of 1970 levels, with the support of conservation action.