Both the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) provide information on the population trends of Evening Grosbeak. The BBS is considered more reliable because it has a more systematic approach and better precision. The BBS shows that the population fluctuated around a fairly stable level from the early 1970s to mid-1990s, then crashed over the following decade and has remained low ever since. It is currently around 17% of its 1970s level. The CBC shows an even greater loss of 94% since 1970, but with a more consistent decline throughout the entire period. The BBS also shows some regional variation, with little change in southern British Columbia and north of the Prairies, but extreme losses of 97% in central parts of Ontario and Quebec, as well as in the Maritimes.

The goal for Evening Grosbeak is to increase the population to the level it was at in the early 1970s, based on the Breeding Bird Survey. Evening Grosbeak is far below its goal range, although it has shown an increase over the past decade. Because of the severity of the population decline since the early 1970s, it is not realistic for the goal to be met by 2050. Based on analysis of the historical population loss and potential growth rates, the interim target is to reach 35% of the goal by 2050. Achieving this target, and ultimately reaching the national goal for this species, will require ambitious and long-term conservation action. This goal is higher than the objective established in the Management Plan for Evening Grosbeak under the Species at Risk Act, which calls for the 30-year population trend to be stabilized by 2036 and at minimum maintained at that level thereafter (ECCC, 2022).