BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 11 · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025

Wilson's Snipe In Prairie Potholes

All regionsPrairie PotholesShorebirds

Wilson's Snipe in Prairie Potholes has surged: up 28× on the route-weighted index since 1970.

28×Since 1970TrendPercent 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 →
100Routes In RegionSurvey 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 SignalsNotable 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 increasecomputed 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 →

Wilson's Snipe has surged in Prairie Potholes: up 28× on the route-weighted index since 1970.

Wilson's Snipe In Prairie Potholes Population Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Wilson's Snipe in Prairie Potholes is projected to rise about 102% by 2030 — from 2.9 in 2025 to a central estimate of 5.8 (95% range 3.9–7.7). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±50.7%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

+102%Change by 2030TrendPercent 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 →
5.8Projected 2030 indexProjected indexThe central forecast of the abundance index if the recent trend continues. A projection of the current trajectory, not a prediction.Full methodology →
3.9–7.795% 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 →
±50.7%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, Wilson's Snipe in Prairie Potholes is projected to rise about 102% by 2030 — from 2.9 in 2025 to a central estimate of 5.8 (95% range 3.9–7.7). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±50.7%, with 60% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19682030
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 →
20265.43.57.3
20275.53.67.4
20285.63.77.5
20295.73.87.6
20305.83.97.7

Routes In Prairie Potholes

Routes recording Wilson's Snipe in Prairie Potholes.
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 →
Lake BronsonMINNESOTA562011
White LakeSOUTH-DAKOTA312011
CooperstownNORTH-DAKOTA232025
Horsehead LkNORTH-DAKOTA202025
BuchananNORTH-DAKOTA202025
LakotaNORTH-DAKOTA202009
Sun RiverMONTANA172025
Sheyenne LkNORTH-DAKOTA162025
RedstoneMONTANA132025
RollaNORTH-DAKOTA132024
ParshallNORTH-DAKOTA132013
Danzig 2NORTH-DAKOTA132025
HarlemMONTANA122021
Lake GeorgeNORTH-DAKOTA122023
LoraineNORTH-DAKOTA112019
WestbyMONTANA102025
ChinookMONTANA92024
DenbighNORTH-DAKOTA92025
BraddockNORTH-DAKOTA92023
BadgerMINNESOTA82018
WhitlashMONTANA82024
Lakota 2NORTH-DAKOTA82025
ReganNORTH-DAKOTA72025
Turtle MtnsNORTH-DAKOTA72025
ErieMINNESOTA62017

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14.