BirdAnalyst
Guild · California · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Grassland Birds In California

All statesCalifornia

7 species in this guild. As a group they are -72% since 1970.

Guild Signals

guild collapsecomputed index

Grassland birds as a group have fallen sharply in California, down 72% since 1970.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Grassland birds in California is projected to fall about 44% by 2029 — from 3.3 in 2024 to a central estimate of 1.9 (95% range 0.00–3.8). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±14.3%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-44%Change by 2029
1.9Projected 2029 index
0.00–3.895% range
±14.3%Backtest error
19682029
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected index95% low95% high
20252.30.394.2
20262.20.284.1
20272.10.164.0
20282.00.053.9
20291.90.003.8

Member Species In California

Grassland birds species in California.
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae-91%
Horned LarkAlaudidae-74%
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae-57%
Lark SparrowPasserellidae-50%
Savannah SparrowPasserellidae+65%
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae+197%
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae+638%

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