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Species · Nebraska · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Trend in Nebraska

All statesGrassland birds

Ring-necked Pheasant in Nebraska has fallen sharply: down 57% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

-57%Since 1969TrendPercent 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 →
75Routes 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 →
57YearsYears 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 NebraskaNotable 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 Nebraska: down 57% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Forecast in Nebraska

If the recent trend holds, Ring-necked Pheasant in Nebraska is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 12 (95% range 0.19–24). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±16.2%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

-2%Change 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 →
12Projected 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 →
0.19–2495% 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 →
±16.2%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 Nebraska is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 12 (95% range 0.19–24). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±16.2%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19672029
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 →
2025141.726
2026131.426
2027130.9625
2028130.5825
2029120.1924

Ring-necked Pheasant Survey Routes in Nebraska

Routes recording Ring-necked Pheasant in Nebraska.
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 →
Paxton10720161967
Winside8820031967
Hay Springs6120242018
Tilden5620242019
Brownson5320212021
Bartley5020241967
Berea4920191980
Hampton4220242018
Champion4120182018
Benkelman3920221986
Thurston3720241967
Stratton3420241975
Liberty 23320072004
Lyons3120242018
Surprise2320241967
Richland2120241968
Murdock2020242018
Wheeler Co1920241978
Winside 21820222005
Liberty1720031967
Belvidere1720241967
Seward1520241967
Sparta1520211967
Johnstown1520241967
Ponca1420242018

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Trend in Other States

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

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