Guild · South Dakota · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Grassland Birds In South Dakota

17 species in this guild. As a group they are -45% since 1969.

Guild Signals

guild collapsecomputed index

Grassland birds as a group have declined in South Dakota, down 45% since 1969.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Grassland birds in South Dakota is projected to fall about 39% by 2029 — from 21 in 2024 to a central estimate of 13 (95% range 5.3–21). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±22.1%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-39%Change by 2029
13Projected 2029 index
5.32195% range
±22.1%Backtest error
19672029
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
2025146.522
2026146.221
2027145.921
2028135.621
2029135.321

Member Species In South Dakota

Grassland birds species in South Dakota.
Eastern MeadowlarkIcteridae-92%
Lark BuntingPasserellidae-83%
Horned LarkAlaudidae-72%
Northern BobwhiteOdontophoridae-62%
Sprague's PipitMotacillidae-58%
DickcisselCardinalidae-34%
Baird's SparrowPasserellidae-29%
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae-28%
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae-25%
Savannah SparrowPasserellidae-21%
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae-13%
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae-11%
Lark SparrowPasserellidae+12%
BobolinkIcteridae+34%
Upland SandpiperScolopacidae+40%
Greater Prairie-ChickenPhasianidae+759%
Sedge WrenTroglodytidae11×

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