Species · BCR 14 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Brown-headed Cowbird In Atlantic Northern Forest

Brown-headed Cowbird in Atlantic Northern Forest has collapsed: down 80% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

-80%Since 1968
144Routes In Region
58Years

Notable Signals

long arc declinecomputed index

Brown-headed Cowbird has collapsed in Atlantic Northern Forest: down 80% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Brown-headed Cowbird in Atlantic Northern Forest is projected to fall about 100% by 2029 — from 1.6 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.00 (95% range 0.00–2.1). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±86.4%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-100%Change by 2029
0.00Projected 2029 index
0.002.195% range
±86.4%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
20250.100.002.2
20260.000.002.1
20270.000.002.1
20280.000.002.1
20290.000.002.1

Routes In Atlantic Northern Forest

Routes recording Brown-headed Cowbird in Atlantic Northern Forest.
BentonMAINE221980
WatervilleVERMONT151980
N OrangeMASSACHUSETTS142024
WarrenMAINE101990
ManchesterMAINE91995
PetersburgNEW-YORK92013
Otisfield GrMAINE82015
PittsfieldMASSACHUSETTS82016
ConcordNEW-HAMPSHIRE82024
Hope FallsNEW-YORK81995
MarlboroVERMONT82024
TopsfieldMAINE71996
SheffieldMASSACHUSETTS72022
Old ForgeNEW-YORK71995
FletcherVERMONT72024
CheshireMASSACHUSETTS61994
Gilmantn I WNEW-HAMPSHIRE62024
TurnerMAINE52010
NorthfieldMAINE51981
Turner 2MAINE52024
NewcombNEW-YORK51993
Dexter LakeNEW-YORK51975
New HartfordCONNECTICUT41987
FreedomMAINE42021
HarmonyMAINE42024

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