BirdAnalyst
Guild · West Virginia · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Generalists In West Virginia

All statesWest Virginia

50 species in this guild. As a group they are -60%Guild trendA mean-index aggregate across the species in this group — the structural direction of the guild, with individual-species noise smoothed out.Full methodology → since 1968.

Guild SignalsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →

guild collapsecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →

Generalists as a group have fallen sharply in West Virginia, down 60% since 1968.

Generalists In West Virginia Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Generalists in West Virginia is projected to fall about 33% by 2029 — from 6.5 in 2024 to a central estimate of 4.4 (95% range 0.18–8.5). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±32.6%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-33%Change by 2029TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →
4.4Projected 2029 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.18–8.595% range95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →
±32.6%Backtest errorBacktest errorTypical error when we hold out the most recent years, forecast them, and compare to what actually happened. Lower means a more trustworthy projection.Full methodology →
If the recent trend holds, Generalists in West Virginia is projected to fall about 33% by 2029 — from 6.5 in 2024 to a central estimate of 4.4 (95% range 0.18–8.5). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±32.6%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19662029
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →95% low95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →95% high95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →
20254.90.739.1
20264.80.599.0
20274.60.468.8
20284.50.328.7
20294.40.188.5

Member Species In West Virginia

Generalists species in West Virginia.
TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →
Yellow-breasted ChatIcteriidae-93%
Summer TanagerCardinalidae-91%
Common GrackleIcteridae-91%
House SparrowPasseridae-89%
Black-billed CuckooCuculidae-87%
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae-68%
Rock PigeonColumbidae-67%
Cooper's HawkAccipitridae-66%
European StarlingSturnidae-64%
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae-62%
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipitridae-60%
Broad-winged HawkAccipitridae-60%
Ruffed GrousePhasianidae-60%
Eastern Screech-OwlStrigidae-57%
Purple FinchFringillidae-57%
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae-50%
Field SparrowPasserellidae-49%
American GoldfinchFringillidae-47%
Fish CrowCorvidae-46%
Yellow-billed CuckooCuculidae-44%
Brown ThrasherMimidae-44%
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae-40%
Baltimore OrioleIcteridae-38%
American CrowCorvidae-28%
Blue GrosbeakCardinalidae-28%
American KestrelFalconidae-26%
Bald EagleAccipitridae-17%
Belted KingfisherAlcedinidae-10%
Gray CatbirdMimidae-1%
Great Horned OwlStrigidae+1%
Eastern TowheePasserellidae+2%
OspreyPandionidae+3%
Northern CardinalCardinalidae+4%
Northern MockingbirdMimidae+5%
Song SparrowPasserellidae+10%
Orchard OrioleIcteridae+13%
Scarlet TanagerCardinalidae+41%
Ruby-throated HummingbirdTrochilidae+53%
Mourning DoveColumbidae+91%
Black VultureCathartidae+112%
Cedar WaxwingBombycillidae+172%
Barred OwlStrigidae+203%
Blue JayCorvidae+230%
Red-shouldered HawkAccipitridae+364%
Turkey VultureCathartidae+376%
Wild TurkeyPhasianidae+436%
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae+448%
Rose-breasted GrosbeakCardinalidae+575%
House FinchFringillidae+754%
Common RavenCorvidae18×

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22.