BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 11 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Brown-headed Cowbird In Prairie Potholes

All regionsPrairie PotholesGeneralists

Brown-headed Cowbird in Prairie Potholes has increased: up 45% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

+45%Since 1969
124Routes In Region
57Years

Notable Signals

No notable trend signals for Brown-headed Cowbird in Prairie Potholes. See the full index history below.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Brown-headed Cowbird in Prairie Potholes is projected to rise about 15% by 2029 — from 51 in 2024 to a central estimate of 59 (95% range 42–76). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±6.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+15%Change by 2029
59Projected 2029 index
42–7695% range
±6.5%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
2025584175
2026584176
2027594176
2028594176
2029594276

Routes In Prairie Potholes

Routes recording Brown-headed Cowbird in Prairie Potholes.
Horsehead LkNORTH-DAKOTA2092024
Douglas CrkNORTH-DAKOTA1822024
SpartaNEBRASKA1492021
DenbighNORTH-DAKOTA1362024
Danzig 2NORTH-DAKOTA1302024
White LakeSOUTH-DAKOTA1232011
Sheyenne LkNORTH-DAKOTA1222024
Winside 2NEBRASKA1082022
Crow CreekSOUTH-DAKOTA1082023
ReganNORTH-DAKOTA1052022
EdgeleyNORTH-DAKOTA1042024
CondeSOUTH-DAKOTA1011984
ForbesSOUTH-DAKOTA972024
LoraineNORTH-DAKOTA962019
BuchananNORTH-DAKOTA922024
PoncaNEBRASKA852024
WimbledonNORTH-DAKOTA822024
GettysburgSOUTH-DAKOTA812023
RedstoneMONTANA752024
GlentanaMONTANA752024
ParshallNORTH-DAKOTA752013
RoswellSOUTH-DAKOTA742014
Wild RoseNORTH-DAKOTA722024
SydneyNORTH-DAKOTA711983
CarpioNORTH-DAKOTA692023

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