BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 18 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Red-breasted Nuthatch In Shortgrass Prairie

All regionsShortgrass PrairieForest birds

Red-breasted Nuthatch in Shortgrass Prairie has collapsed: down 78% on the route-weighted index since 1986.

-78%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 →
5Routes 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 →
23YearsYears 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 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 →

Red-breasted Nuthatch has collapsed in Shortgrass Prairie: down 78% on the route-weighted index since 1986.

Red-breasted Nuthatch In Shortgrass Prairie Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Red-breasted Nuthatch in Shortgrass Prairie is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.01 (95% range 0.00–0.12). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±201.3%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange 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 →
0.01Projected 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 →
0.00–0.1295% 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 →
±201.3%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, Red-breasted Nuthatch in Shortgrass Prairie is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.01 (95% range 0.00–0.12). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±201.3%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19712029
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 →
20250.020.000.12
20260.010.000.12
20270.010.000.12
20280.010.000.12
20290.010.000.12

Routes In Shortgrass Prairie

Routes recording Red-breasted Nuthatch 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 →
YoderWYOMING21971
ElbertCOLORADO12019
CrawfordNEBRASKA12024
Pine RidgeNEBRASKA12016
LingleWYOMING11999

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