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

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Trend in Maine

All statesGrassland birds

Ring-necked Pheasant in Maine has fallen sharply: down 73% on the route-weighted index since 1973.

-73%Since 1973TrendPercent 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 →
25Routes 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 →
28YearsYears 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 MaineNotable 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 Maine: down 73% on the route-weighted index since 1973.

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Forecast in Maine

If the recent trend holds, Ring-necked Pheasant in Maine is projected to stay roughly flat through 2017, near 0.02 (95% range 0.00–0.08). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±38.1%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2017TrendPercent 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 →
0.02Projected 2017 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.00–0.0895% 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 →
±38.1%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 Maine is projected to stay roughly flat through 2017, near 0.02 (95% range 0.00–0.08). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±38.1%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19672017
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 →
20130.030.000.09
20140.020.000.09
20150.020.000.08
20160.020.000.08
20170.020.000.08

Ring-necked Pheasant Survey Routes in Maine

Routes recording Ring-necked Pheasant in Maine.
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 →
Hermon319721972
South Arm219981998
Hancock219861986
Cape Neddick119801980
Westbrook120051982
Biddeford120071974
Kittery Pt119801980
Newcastle119911986
Greenwood119811981
Otisfield Gr120121980
Bowdoin Ctr120031983
East Troy119941994
Warren119881973
Harmony120112004
Eastbrook119881988
Castine119951995
Cooper120062006
Deblois119671967
Charleston120092009
Cambridge120051994
Ludlow119831983
Searsport120042004
Rome119991998
Jefferson119931993
Church Hill120072000

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Trend in Other States

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

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