BirdAnalyst
Species · Oklahoma · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Great Horned Owl Population Trend in Oklahoma

All statesBirds of prey

Great Horned Owl in Oklahoma has surged: up 136% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

+136%Since 1969TrendPercent 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 →
65Routes 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 →
58YearsYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →

Notable Great Horned Owl Trends in OklahomaNotable 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 →

Great Horned Owl has surged in Oklahoma: up 136% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

Great Horned Owl Population Forecast in Oklahoma

If the recent trend holds, Great Horned Owl in Oklahoma is projected to fall about 36% by 2030 — from 0.89 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.56 (95% range 0.22–0.91). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±48.8%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-36%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 →
0.56Projected 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 →
0.22–0.9195% 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 →
±48.8%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 Oklahoma is projected to fall about 36% by 2030 — from 0.89 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.56 (95% range 0.22–0.91). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±48.8%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19672030
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 →
20260.540.200.89
20270.550.200.90
20280.560.210.90
20290.560.210.91
20300.560.220.91

Great Horned Owl Survey Routes in Oklahoma

Routes recording Great Horned Owl in Oklahoma.
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 →
Wichita Mts West920252004
Wichita Mtns East520252004
Clear Lake520251992
Douglas420211967
Sickles420211992
Ft Sill East419941994
Wichita Mtns419941994
Reed320171985
Colony319951995
Elgin319941994
Heyburn320092001
Jet320221994
Big Cedar219871983
Randlett220251967
Cookietown220061969
Beggs220231969
Verden219881967
Peoria220141969
Collinsville220151968
Wakita220161967
Arapaho220121997
Hooker220171995
Pushmataha220012001
Blanco119871981
Mcalester119851972

Great Horned Owl Population Trend in Other States

alabamaalaskaarizonaarkansascaliforniacoloradoconnecticutdelawarefloridageorgiaidahoillinoisindianaiowakansaskentuckylouisianamainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamississippimissourimontananebraskanevadanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-mexiconew-yorknorth-carolinanorth-dakotaohiooregonpennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-carolinasouth-dakotatennesseetexasutahvermontvirginiawashingtonwest-virginiawisconsinwyoming

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