The Canadian population of American Goshawk is not well monitored by any single survey. However, considering results from both the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the Christmas Bird Count (CBC), there is sufficient evidence to determine that there has been little overall change in abundance since 1970. The BBS samples only a low proportion of the breeding range, and detectability of the species is moderate at best, but within these constraints, the precision of trend estimates is high. The CBC samples a greater portion of the population, but also reflects the portion of the population that remains in the United States year-round. The national BBS trend shows subtle fluctuations over time, but with little overall deviation from 1970s levels. The CBC results show greater interannual variability but also indicate little long-term change. Only two sites contributing to the Raptor Population Index have trends with medium reliability for American Goshawk; both indicate large declines. Population trend information specific to the laingi subspecies is not available, but it is assumed that its population has decreased in abundance based on the loss and degradation of its mature forest habitat (COSEWIC, 2013). 

The goal for American Goshawk is to maintain its population at or above the level it was at in the early 1970s, based on the Breeding Bird Survey. Recent data show that the population is within its goal range.

The population goal for the laingi subspecies is to maintain at least 724 to 951 home ranges in Canada, distributed across the historical ranges of the population. This goal is defined in its Recovery Strategy under the Species at Risk Act (Parks Canada Agency, 2017). Although monitoring is limited, the population is presumed to be below its goal range.