BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 18 · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Greater Prairie-Chicken In Shortgrass Prairie

All regionsShortgrass PrairieGame birds

Greater Prairie-Chicken in Shortgrass Prairie has surged: up 211% on the route-weighted index since 1986.

+211%Since 1986TrendPercent 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 →
6Routes 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 →
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 SignalsNotable 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 →

Greater Prairie-Chicken has surged in Shortgrass Prairie: up 211% on the route-weighted index since 1986.

Greater Prairie-Chicken In Shortgrass Prairie Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Greater Prairie-Chicken in Shortgrass Prairie is projected to fall about 33% by 2030 — from 0.25 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.17 (95% range 0.00–0.75). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±96.1%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-33%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 →
0.17Projected 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 →
0.00–0.7595% 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 →
±96.1%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, Greater Prairie-Chicken in Shortgrass Prairie is projected to fall about 33% by 2030 — from 0.25 in 2025 to a central estimate of 0.17 (95% range 0.00–0.75). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±96.1%, with 80% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19792030
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 →
20260.170.000.76
20270.170.000.76
20280.170.000.75
20290.170.000.75
20300.170.000.75

Routes In Shortgrass Prairie

Routes recording Greater Prairie-Chicken in Shortgrass Prairie.
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 →
WinonaKANSAS222018
BenkelmanNEBRASKA192025
PaxtonNEBRASKA72016
AbarrCOLORADO22023
PinneoCOLORADO12016
WaverlyCOLORADO12012

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