Guild · Illinois · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Waterfowl In Illinois

5 species in this guild. As a group they are 12× since 1968.

Guild Signals

No notable trend signals for waterfowl in Illinois. See the full index history below.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Waterfowl in Illinois is projected to rise about 37% by 2029 — from 2.2 in 2024 to a central estimate of 3.0 (95% range 1.9–4.0). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±27.3%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+37%Change by 2029
3.0Projected 2029 index
1.94.095% range
±27.3%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
20252.81.73.9
20262.81.83.9
20272.91.83.9
20282.91.94.0
20293.01.94.0

Member Species In Illinois

Waterfowl species in Illinois.
Blue-winged TealAnatidae-80%
Hooded MerganserAnatidae-77%
Wood DuckAnatidae+26%
MallardAnatidae+249%
Canada GooseAnatidae19×

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