BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 11 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Sharp-tailed Grouse In Prairie Potholes

All regionsPrairie PotholesGeneralists

Sharp-tailed Grouse in Prairie Potholes has surged: up 106% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

+106%Since 1969
66Routes In Region
57Years

Notable Signals

long arc increasecomputed index

Sharp-tailed Grouse has surged in Prairie Potholes: up 106% on the route-weighted index since 1969.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Sharp-tailed Grouse in Prairie Potholes is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 1.2 (95% range 0.39–2.0). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±37.2%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+3%Change by 2029
1.2Projected 2029 index
0.39–2.095% range
±37.2%Backtest error
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 index95% low95% high
20251.10.331.9
20261.10.341.9
20271.20.362.0
20281.20.372.0
20291.20.392.0

Routes In Prairie Potholes

Routes recording Sharp-tailed Grouse in Prairie Potholes.
RedstoneMONTANA292024
BuchananNORTH-DAKOTA152024
ClevelandMONTANA142017
MaltaMONTANA112019
ErieMINNESOTA92015
WalcottNORTH-DAKOTA72015
Douglas CrkNORTH-DAKOTA72023
GlasgowMONTANA62021
WebsterNORTH-DAKOTA62024
DenbighNORTH-DAKOTA62024
BadgerMINNESOTA52017
SunburstMONTANA52006
WestbyMONTANA52024
Sun RiverMONTANA52024
GildfordMONTANA42019
LambertMONTANA42024
LoraineNORTH-DAKOTA42012
Bowesmont 2NORTH-DAKOTA42016
GryglaMINNESOTA32017
ShelbyMONTANA32022
Eagle CreekNEBRASKA31973
OkleeMINNESOTA22021
Big StoneMINNESOTA22007
VirgelleMONTANA22024
OswegoMONTANA22021

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