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

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Trend in Delaware

All statesGrassland birds

Ring-necked Pheasant in Delaware has fallen sharply: down 64% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

-64%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 →
10Routes In StateSurvey routesHow many standard-protocol BBS routes contributed counts. More routes means a steadier, better-sampled index; very thin coverage is suppressed.Full methodology →
40YearsYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →

Notable Ring-necked Pheasant Trends in DelawareNotable 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 →

Ring-necked Pheasant has fallen sharply in Delaware: down 64% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Forecast in Delaware

If the recent trend holds, Ring-necked Pheasant in Delaware is projected to fall about 30% by 2014 — from 0.25 in 2009 to a central estimate of 0.17 (95% range 0.00–0.72). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±71.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-30%Change by 2014TrendPercent 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 2014 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.00–0.7295% 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 →
±71.5%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, Ring-necked Pheasant in Delaware is projected to fall about 30% by 2014 — from 0.25 in 2009 to a central estimate of 0.17 (95% range 0.00–0.72). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±71.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19662014
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 →
20100.210.000.76
20110.200.000.75
20120.190.000.74
20130.180.000.73
20140.170.000.72

Ring-necked Pheasant Survey Routes in Delaware

Routes recording Ring-necked Pheasant in Delaware.
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 →
Blackbird220091994
Mt Pleasant119991966
Wilmington119871966
Harrington120011975
Frederica119921967
Dover119791966
Frankford119911991
Holleyville119891985
Bethany Bch119871985
Milton119751975

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Trend in Other States

alaskaarizonacaliforniacoloradoconnecticutidahoillinoisindianaiowakansasmainemarylandmassachusettsmichiganminnesotamissourimontananebraskanevadanew-hampshirenew-jerseynew-mexiconew-yorknorth-dakotaohiooklahomaoregonpennsylvaniarhode-islandsouth-dakotatexasutahvermontvirginiawashingtonwest-virginiawisconsinwyoming

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