Species · BCR 28 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Red Crossbill In Appalachian Mountains

Red Crossbill in Appalachian Mountains has surged: up 468% on the route-weighted index since 1985.

+468%Since 1985
25Routes In Region
34Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

Red Crossbill has surged in Appalachian Mountains: up 468% on the route-weighted index since 1985.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Red Crossbill in Appalachian Mountains is projected to fall about 48% by 2029 — from 0.10 in 2024 to a central estimate of 0.05 (95% range 0.01–0.09). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±60.9%, with 40% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-48%Change by 2029
0.05Projected 2029 index
0.010.0995% range
±60.9%Backtest error
19762029
Projection of the recent trend (dashed) with 80/95% bands — a projection, not a prediction. Habitat, climate, and land use are not modeled.
YearProjected index95% low95% high
20250.040.010.08
20260.050.010.08
20270.050.010.09
20280.050.010.09
20290.050.010.09

Routes In Appalachian Mountains

Routes recording Red Crossbill in Appalachian Mountains.
Glade Run 2WEST-VIRGINIA142007
French Broad RiverNORTH-CAROLINA92023
Borden Springs 2ALABAMA72024
Swain 2NEW-YORK72022
Cades CoveTENNESSEE72024
BemisWEST-VIRGINIA72019
FontanaNORTH-CAROLINA52024
Table RockNORTH-CAROLINA42022
JasperTENNESSEE42021
DrydenNEW-YORK32022
Mountain CtyGEORGIA22009
Phillips CrNEW-YORK21999
SwainNEW-YORK22004
CullowheeNORTH-CAROLINA22024
WatervilleNORTH-CAROLINA22016
SaltvilleVIRGINIA21995
WashburnWEST-VIRGINIA21976
Borden SprngALABAMA11998
McdonoughNEW-YORK12017
NagineyPENNSYLVANIA11998
BattlecreekSOUTH-CAROLINA12002
TellicoTENNESSEE12023
Newfound GapTENNESSEE12023
Rural RetrtVIRGINIA11992
Green BankWEST-VIRGINIA12017

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