BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 17 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Brown-headed Cowbird In Badlands and Prairies

All regionsBadlands and PrairiesGeneralists

Brown-headed Cowbird in Badlands and Prairies has surged: up 82% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

+82%Since 1969
138Routes In Region
57Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

Brown-headed Cowbird has surged in Badlands and Prairies: up 82% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Brown-headed Cowbird in Badlands and Prairies is projected to rise about 31% by 2029 — from 30 in 2024 to a central estimate of 39 (95% range 28–51). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±32.3%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+31%Change by 2029
39Projected 2029 index
28–5195% range
±32.3%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
2025382650
2026382750
2027392751
2028392751
2029392851

Routes In Badlands and Prairies

Routes recording Brown-headed Cowbird in Badlands and Prairies.
Ft ThompsonSOUTH-DAKOTA1942011
BentleyNORTH-DAKOTA1672024
Ft YatesNORTH-DAKOTA1622004
MaurineSOUTH-DAKOTA1602024
PromiseSOUTH-DAKOTA1542015
RosebudSOUTH-DAKOTA1182011
CarsonNORTH-DAKOTA1152024
GorhamNORTH-DAKOTA1112018
Cedar CreekNORTH-DAKOTA902022
DickinsonNORTH-DAKOTA872024
SolenNORTH-DAKOTA832024
IsabelSOUTH-DAKOTA832015
ZapNORTH-DAKOTA772024
OwankaSOUTH-DAKOTA752022
Glen UllinNORTH-DAKOTA712022
OttumwaSOUTH-DAKOTA682022
Eagle ButteSOUTH-DAKOTA672015
PowdervilleMONTANA662024
AlbionMONTANA652024
CrookstonNEBRASKA642024
MarcusSOUTH-DAKOTA622015
Fort PierreSOUTH-DAKOTA612024
ChamberlainSOUTH-DAKOTA592011
VolunteerSOUTH-DAKOTA592019
Railroad ButteSOUTH-DAKOTA592022

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