BirdAnalyst
Species · Maine · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Eastern Whip-poor-will Population Trend in Maine

All statesAerial insectivores

Eastern Whip-poor-will in Maine has collapsed: down 86% on the route-weighted index since 1971.

-86%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 →
19Routes 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 →
32YearsYears 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 MaineNotable 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 Whip-poor-will has collapsed in Maine: down 86% on the route-weighted index since 1971.

Eastern Whip-poor-will Population Forecast in Maine

If the recent trend holds, Eastern Whip-poor-will in Maine is projected to stay roughly flat through 2026, near 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.17). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±238.5%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2026TrendPercent 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 →
0.00Projected 2026 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.00–0.1795% 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 →
±238.5%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 Maine is projected to stay roughly flat through 2026, near 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.17). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±238.5%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19662026
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 →
20220.000.000.17
20230.000.000.17
20240.000.000.17
20250.000.000.17
20260.000.000.17

Eastern Whip-poor-will Survey Routes in Maine

Routes recording Eastern Whip-poor-will in Maine.
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 →
Warren219801973
Heron Lake219831983
Cape Neddick119901972
Northfield 2120151998
Biddeford119941973
Kittery Pt119821967
Newcastle119821981
Turner119841976
Greenwood119661966
Otisfield Gr119941975
Bowdoin Ctr119861980
East Troy119851983
Hancock119711971
Aurora119911991
Cooper120211975
Deblois120071971
Northfield119811979
Hudson119981973
Big Twenty119931993

Eastern Whip-poor-will Population Trend in Other States

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

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