BirdAnalyst
Species · Illinois · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Red-winged Blackbird Population Trend in Illinois

All statesGeneralists

Red-winged Blackbird in Illinois has edged down: down 25% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

-25%Since 1968
105Routes In State
58Years

Notable Red-winged Blackbird Trends in Illinois

No notable trend signals for Red-winged Blackbird in Illinois. See the full index history below.

Red-winged Blackbird Population Forecast in Illinois

If the recent trend holds, Red-winged Blackbird in Illinois is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 128 (95% range 78–178). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±11.3%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+9%Change by 2029
128Projected 2029 index
78–17895% range
±11.3%Backtest error
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 index95% low95% high
202513282182
202613181181
202713080180
202812979179
202912878178

Red-winged Blackbird Survey Routes in Illinois

Routes recording Red-winged Blackbird in Illinois.
Beaucoup43220241971
Pontiac33420241978
Streator27420241972
Newark26720221969
York26320241993
Geneseo25920211967
Guilford23920231967
Greenview22620241993
Harristown21920242001
Bradbury21020241970
Wayne20920241966
Pawnee20020241967
Essex19720241969
Sherrard19120241993
Jamestown18420241966
Troy Grove18420241993
Marshall18220242001
Lake Galena17720212001
Janesville17320241972
Sterling17020232001
Darmstadt16720241993
Stillwell15720241971
Buda15520231977
Yale15520241993
Fairdale15420242019

Red-winged Blackbird Population Trend in Other States

alabamaalaskaarizonaarkansascaliforniacoloradoconnecticutdelawarefloridageorgiaidahoindianaiowakansaskentuckylouisianamainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamississippimissourimontananebraskanevadanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-mexiconew-yorknorth-carolinanorth-dakotaohiooklahomaoregonpennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-carolinasouth-dakotatennesseetexasutahvermontvirginiawashingtonwest-virginiawisconsinwyoming

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