BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 34 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Great Horned Owl In Sierra Madre Occidental

All regionsSierra Madre OccidentalGeneralists

Great Horned Owl in Sierra Madre Occidental has declined: down 35% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

-35%Since 1970TrendPercent 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 →
30Routes In RegionSurvey routesHow many standard-protocol BBS routes contributed counts. More routes means a steadier, better-sampled index; very thin coverage is suppressed.Full methodology →
55YearsYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →

Notable SignalsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →

No notable trend signals for Great Horned Owl in Sierra Madre Occidental. See the full index history below.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Great Horned Owl in Sierra Madre Occidental is projected to fall about 37% by 2029 — from 0.56 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.35 (95% range 0.00–0.91). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±114.1%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-37%Change by 2029TrendPercent 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 →
0.35Projected 2029 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.00–0.9195% 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 →
±114.1%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, Great Horned Owl in Sierra Madre Occidental is projected to fall about 37% by 2029 — from 0.56 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.35 (95% range 0.00–0.91). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±114.1%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.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 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 →
20250.380.000.94
20260.370.000.93
20270.360.000.92
20280.360.000.92
20290.350.000.91

Routes In Sierra Madre Occidental

Routes recording Great Horned Owl in Sierra Madre Occidental.
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 →
FlagstaffARIZONA32010
McnealARIZONA32024
DragoonARIZONA32009
MagdalenaNEW-MEXICO32024
Peña BlancaARIZONA22017
Forest LakesARIZONA21997
CutterARIZONA21998
Mt. GrahamARIZONA22018
Happy JackARIZONA22017
ReserveNEW-MEXICO22022
PrescottARIZONA12005
Mormon LakeARIZONA11970
PomereneARIZONA12024
San SimonARIZONA12016
PatagoniaARIZONA12024
SunizonaARIZONA11996
Skull ValleyARIZONA12024
Bartlett ResARIZONA12024
AlpineARIZONA11993
RedingtonARIZONA12016
AmadoARIZONA12011
SahuaritaARIZONA12012
Clay SpringARIZONA12019
Carr MtnARIZONA12018
SprucedaleARIZONA12021

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