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Species · South Carolina · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Eastern Towhee Population Trend in South Carolina

All statesForest birds

Eastern Towhee in South Carolina has fallen sharply: down 57% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

-57%Since 1968TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →
51Routes In StateSurvey routesHow many standard-protocol BBS routes contributed counts. More routes means a steadier, better-sampled index; very thin coverage is suppressed.Full methodology →
59YearsYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →

Notable Eastern Towhee Trends in South CarolinaNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →

long arc declinecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →

Eastern Towhee has fallen sharply in South Carolina: down 57% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Eastern Towhee Population Forecast in South Carolina

If the recent trend holds, Eastern Towhee in South Carolina is projected to stay roughly flat through 2030, near 13 (95% range 6.0–20). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±47.6%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+6%Change by 2030TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →
13Projected 2030 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
6.0–2095% range95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →
±47.6%Backtest errorBacktest errorTypical error when we hold out the most recent years, forecast them, and compare to what actually happened. Lower means a more trustworthy projection.Full methodology →
If the recent trend holds, Eastern Towhee in South Carolina is projected to stay roughly flat through 2030, near 13 (95% range 6.0–20). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±47.6%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19662030
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →95% low95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →95% high95% rangeThe 95% uncertainty band around the projection at the forecast horizon. The true value should land inside it most of the time.Full methodology →
2026146.821
2027136.620
2028136.420
2029136.220
2030136.020

Eastern Towhee Survey Routes in South Carolina

Routes recording Eastern Towhee in South Carolina.
Recent countThe raw number of individuals recorded on this route in its most recent survey year. A single-route tally, not a trend.Full methodology →
Salem Xrd4020191982
Little Mtn3719881966
Sandhills3720251994
Carvers Bay3420121998
Boykin Ml Pd3219681966
Kingstree3120102010
Greenwood2920251998
Anderson2820181977
Pendleton2719761966
Nixville2620251998
Mount Pisgah2520251998
Bennettsville2520171998
Plum Branch2320251977
Owings2220041992
Whitmire2220242010
Battlecreek2220251999
Walterboro2020171970
New Holland1920251967
Ward1820252017
Green Sea1820252010
Cauthens Xrd1720211982
Coward1520251966
Campobello1520252010
Pinewood1520191998
Jamestown1420191967

Eastern Towhee Population Trend in Other States

alabamaarkansasconnecticutdelawarefloridageorgiaillinoisindianaiowakansaskentuckylouisianamainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamississippimissourimontananebraskanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-yorknorth-carolinanorth-dakotaohiooklahomapennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-dakotatennesseetexasvermontvirginiawest-virginiawisconsinwyoming

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14.