BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 16 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Burrowing Owl In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau

All regionsSouthern Rockies / Colorado PlateauGeneralists

Burrowing Owl in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau has collapsed: down 81% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

-81%Since 1970
62Routes In Region
55Years

Notable Signals

long arc declinecomputed index

Burrowing Owl has collapsed in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau: down 81% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Burrowing Owl in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau is projected to fall about 59% by 2029 — from 0.09 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.04 (95% range 0.00–0.25). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±56.3%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-59%Change by 2029
0.04Projected 2029 index
0.00–0.2595% range
±56.3%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
20250.050.000.27
20260.050.000.26
20270.040.000.26
20280.040.000.26
20290.040.000.25

Routes In Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau

Routes recording Burrowing Owl in Southern Rockies / Colorado Plateau.
SanosteeNEW-MEXICO42024
OraibiARIZONA32000
Castle ButteARIZONA32006
QuemadoNEW-MEXICO31996
FayetteUTAH32000
Gilson ButteUTAH32003
Gilson Butte 2UTAH32017
WestwaterUTAH32024
Arches NpUTAH32006
Navajo TrailARIZONA22023
MoffatCOLORADO22018
DoloresCOLORADO21982
BlancaCOLORADO21986
Wilson CreekCOLORADO22023
San LuisCOLORADO22005
AntonitoCOLORADO21998
Horse SpgsNEW-MEXICO22023
Salt Lake 2NEW-MEXICO22023
AnethUTAH22008
Cane Spr DesUTAH21997
House RockARIZONA11984
Rose WellsARIZONA11973
ToroweapARIZONA11998
Many FarmsARIZONA12005
GreasewoodARIZONA11995

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