BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 22 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Northern Rough-winged Swallow In Eastern Tallgrass Prairie

All regionsEastern Tallgrass PrairieAerial insectivores

Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Eastern Tallgrass Prairie has surged: up 194% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

+194%Since 1968TrendPercent 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 →
270Routes 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 →
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 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 →

Northern Rough-winged Swallow has surged in Eastern Tallgrass Prairie: up 194% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow In Eastern Tallgrass Prairie Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Eastern Tallgrass Prairie is projected to rise about 37% by 2029 — from 2.0 in 2024 to a central estimate of 2.8 (95% range 1.7–3.8). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±46.8%, with 60% 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 →
2.8Projected 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 →
1.7–3.895% 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 →
±46.8%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, Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Eastern Tallgrass Prairie is projected to rise about 37% by 2029 — from 2.0 in 2024 to a central estimate of 2.8 (95% range 1.7–3.8). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±46.8%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19662029
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 →
20252.71.63.7
20262.71.73.7
20272.71.73.7
20282.71.73.8
20292.81.73.8

Routes In Eastern Tallgrass Prairie

Routes recording Northern Rough-winged Swallow in Eastern Tallgrass 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 →
EldredILLINOIS2402021
PeoriaOKLAHOMA512023
BryantIOWA422013
MelroseILLINOIS351999
WayneILLINOIS312024
StillwellILLINOIS302024
Gretna 2NEBRASKA302022
GulfportILLINOIS252024
Rock Creek 2KANSAS252023
SherrardILLINOIS222024
West LibertyIOWA222023
WarrenMISSOURI221984
PawneeILLINOIS202018
Kahoka2MISSOURI202024
RensselaerMISSOURI192019
StetMISSOURI191991
Camp PointILLINOIS182024
KingsvilleMISSOURI162024
CollinsvilleOKLAHOMA162019
Davis CornerIOWA122003
IrvingtonNEBRASKA122018
River FallsWISCONSIN122022
HolcombILLINOIS112022
SheffieldILLINOIS112024
Le RoyILLINOIS112023

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