BirdAnalyst
Species · BCR 17 · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024

Yellow-billed Cuckoo In Badlands and Prairies

All regionsBadlands and PrairiesGeneralists

Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Badlands and Prairies has fallen sharply: down 62% on the route-weighted index since 1970.

-62%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 →
27Routes 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 →
41YearsYears 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 →

No notable trend signals for Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Badlands and Prairies. See the full index history below.

Forecast

If the recent trend holds, Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Badlands and Prairies is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.01 (95% range 0.00–0.09). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±34.9%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.

n/aChange 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 →
0.01Projected 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 →
0.00–0.0995% 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 →
±34.9%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, Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Badlands and Prairies is projected to stay roughly flat through 2029, near 0.01 (95% range 0.00–0.09). A 5-year backtest shows a typical error of ±34.9%, with 100% of held-out values landing inside the 95% band.19682029
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 →
20250.020.000.10
20260.020.000.10
20270.020.000.10
20280.010.000.10
20290.010.000.09

Routes In Badlands and Prairies

Routes recording Yellow-billed Cuckoo in Badlands and Prairies.
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 →
BrandenbergMONTANA51974
PromiseSOUTH-DAKOTA41999
PowdervilleMONTANA11974
CrookstonNEBRASKA12024
ChamberlainSOUTH-DAKOTA12011
WinnerSOUTH-DAKOTA12019
RosebudSOUTH-DAKOTA12010
RockyfordSOUTH-DAKOTA11988
Ft ThompsonSOUTH-DAKOTA12011
LaplantSOUTH-DAKOTA11975
OwankaSOUTH-DAKOTA11990
VolunteerSOUTH-DAKOTA11969
OttumwaSOUTH-DAKOTA12006
HardingSOUTH-DAKOTA11999
Cedar PassSOUTH-DAKOTA11982
MaurineSOUTH-DAKOTA12014
RevaSOUTH-DAKOTA12023
Eagle ButteSOUTH-DAKOTA11999
MarcusSOUTH-DAKOTA12010
HayesSOUTH-DAKOTA11998
ArdmoreSOUTH-DAKOTA12019
LacreekSOUTH-DAKOTA11997
White RiverSOUTH-DAKOTA12011
WyarnoWYOMING11991
SundanceWYOMING12004

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