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

Shorebirds In California

All statesCalifornia

10 species in this guild. As a group they are -65% since 1970.

Guild Signals

guild collapsecomputed index

Shorebirds as a group have fallen sharply in California, down 64% since 1970.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Shorebirds in California is projected to rise about 21% by 2029 — from 0.61 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.74 (95% range 0.00–1.6). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±79.1%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+21%Change by 2029
0.74Projected 2029 index
0.00–1.695% range
±79.1%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
20250.810.001.7
20260.790.001.7
20270.780.001.6
20280.760.001.6
20290.740.001.6

Member Species In California

Shorebirds species in California.
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae-95%
Black-necked StiltRecurvirostridae-87%
Spotted SandpiperScolopacidae-50%
WilletScolopacidae-43%
KilldeerCharadriidae-32%
American AvocetRecurvirostridae-20%
Wilson's PhalaropeScolopacidae-8%
Wilson's SnipeScolopacidae+11%
Black OystercatcherHaematopodidae+44%
Snowy PloverCharadriidae+106%

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