Guild · Massachusetts · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Birds Of Prey In Massachusetts

10 species in this guild. As a group they are -21% since 1968.

Guild Signals

No notable trend signals for birds of prey in Massachusetts. See the full index history below.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Birds of prey in Massachusetts is projected to fall about 44% by 2029 — from 0.55 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.31 (95% range 0.00–0.63). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±42.7%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-44%Change by 2029
0.31Projected 2029 index
0.000.6395% range
±42.7%Backtest error
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 index95% low95% high
20250.300.000.63
20260.310.000.63
20270.310.000.63
20280.310.000.63
20290.310.000.63

Member Species In Massachusetts

Birds of prey species in Massachusetts.
American KestrelFalconidae-81%
Sharp-shinned HawkAccipitridae+32%
Great Horned OwlStrigidae+32%
Broad-winged HawkAccipitridae+99%
Cooper's HawkAccipitridae+107%
Barred OwlStrigidae+111%
Red-shouldered HawkAccipitridae+388%
Turkey VultureCathartidae+530%
OspreyPandionidae+986%
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae+990%

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