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Species · Iowa · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Eastern Whip-poor-will Population Trend in Iowa

All statesAerial insectivores

Eastern Whip-poor-will in Iowa has surged: up 349% on the route-weighted index since 1971.

+349%Since 1971TrendPercent 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 →
9Routes 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 →
33YearsYears 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 Whip-poor-will Trends in IowaNotable 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 increasecomputed 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 Whip-poor-will has surged in Iowa: up 349% on the route-weighted index since 1971.

Eastern Whip-poor-will Population Forecast in Iowa

If the recent trend holds, Eastern Whip-poor-will in Iowa is projected to stay roughly flat through 2015, near 0.18 (95% range 0.03–0.33). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±81.3%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2015TrendPercent 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 →
0.18Projected 2015 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.03–0.3395% 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 →
±81.3%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 Whip-poor-will in Iowa is projected to stay roughly flat through 2015, near 0.18 (95% range 0.03–0.33). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±81.3%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19692015
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 →
20110.170.020.32
20120.170.020.33
20130.180.030.33
20140.180.030.33
20150.180.030.33

Eastern Whip-poor-will Survey Routes in Iowa

Routes recording Eastern Whip-poor-will in Iowa.
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 →
Exline220061974
Red Rock219921979
Mt Hamill119811981
Melrose120101976
Bedford119711971
College Spgs119701970
Washington119821982
Maquoketa119731973
Festina119921969

Eastern Whip-poor-will Population Trend in Other States

alabamaarkansasconnecticutdelawaregeorgiaillinoisindianakansaskentuckymainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamississippimissourinebraskanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-yorknorth-carolinanorth-dakotaohiooklahomapennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-carolinasouth-dakotatennesseetexasvermontvirginiawest-virginiawisconsin

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