The Canadian population of Horned Lark is monitored by both the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the Christmas Bird Count (CBC). The BBS has high precision for the portion of the population it samples, but coverage is medium because large populations in the Arctic are beyond the range of the survey. The national trend shows a steady decline from the early 1970s to the early 1990s, then a much steeper loss of roughly 50% over the course of the 1990s. Following a slight rebound in the early 2000s, the population has resumed its decline, and is now estimated to be at only 13% of 1970 levels. 

The continental CBC trend should also largely reflect changes in the Canadian population. There is greater variability and less precision in the CBC data, but overall it supports the conclusion of a large long-term decrease, with an estimated loss of 36% from early 1970s abundance. Taken together, the BBS and CBC provide high confidence that a large decline has occurred. 

The most recent confirmed nesting of Streaked Horned Lark in Canada was in 1978, and it is likely that the subspecies is no longer present in Canada.

The national goal for Horned Lark is to increase the population to the level it was at in the early 1970s, based on the Breeding Bird Survey. Trend data show that Horned Lark is far below its goal range and its population decline is ongoing. The trend will need to stabilize before the population can begin to rebound, and 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 25% of the goal by that year. Achieving this target, and ultimately reaching the national goal for this species, will require ambitious and long-term conservation action. 

For the Streaked Horned Lark, the Species at Risk Act Recovery Strategy has identified a target of at least 10 breeding pairs (20 individuals, ECCC, 2016).  As the current population estimate is zero, it remains far below its goal.