The Canadian population of Hairy Woodpecker is monitored fairly well by both the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), although both programs are limited to medium reliability because they sample less than half of the species' range. Overall, the BBS likely provides a more reliable signal of population trend, as its design is more standardized. The BBS trend for Canada shows a steady increase from the early 1970s to around 2007, and little change since then, amounting to a cumulative increase of 87%. The CBC trend is largely similar, although the increase has continued to the present, and the cumulative population growth is 101%. Together, they provide high confidence that a moderate increase has occurred. Regional BBS trends are largely similar, other than a slight long-term decline in southern interior British Columbia, and a continued increase in the Maritimes.

The goal for Hairy Woodpecker is to remain at or above its recent population level, based on the Breeding Bird Survey. Trend data show that Hairy Woodpecker is currently within its goal range