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Species · Virginia · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Trend in Virginia

All statesGrassland birds

Ring-necked Pheasant in Virginia has collapsed: down 91% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

-91%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 →
16Routes 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 →
30YearsYears 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 VirginiaNotable 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 collapsed in Virginia: down 91% on the route-weighted index since 1968.

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Forecast in Virginia

If the recent trend holds, Ring-necked Pheasant in Virginia is projected to stay roughly flat through 2016, near 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.45). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±283.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange by 2016TrendPercent 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 →
0.00Projected 2016 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
0.00–0.4595% 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 →
±283.5%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 Virginia is projected to stay roughly flat through 2016, near 0.00 (95% range 0.00–0.45). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±283.5%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19662016
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 →
20120.000.000.45
20130.000.000.45
20140.000.000.45
20150.000.000.45
20160.000.000.45

Ring-necked Pheasant Survey Routes in Virginia

Routes recording Ring-necked Pheasant in Virginia.
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 →
Mannboro219731973
White Stone219851966
Quinby119851974
Star Tannery119921984
Taylorstown119971967
Stanley119771968
Edinburg119761969
Ringgold119881988
Great Falls119661966
Partlow119921992
David119971978
Putnam119801979
Appomattox120112011
Covesville119891989
Cape Charles119921992
Church Road119731973

Ring-necked Pheasant Population Trend in Other States

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