BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Illinois · BCR 22

Athens Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 94 species recorded across 26 survey years, still active.

94Species RecordedSpecies recordedDistinct species detected on standard-protocol BBS runs here across all years on record — a measure of survey breadth, not a complete checklist.Full methodology →
26Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1995–2024Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on Illinois Athens

Top 40 of 94 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Athens route.
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 →TrendPercent 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 →Baseline yearThe first year of the smoothed window the trend is measured from. An earlier baseline means a longer record stands behind the number.Full methodology →History
American CrowCorvidae882024-36%1997
American RobinTurdidae432024-23%1997
Northern CardinalCardinalidae422024-40%1997
House SparrowPasseridae412024-54%1997
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae332024-82%1997
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae282024+0%1997
Tufted TitmouseParidae192024-43%1997
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae162024+89%1997
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae162023-13%2007
American GoldfinchFringillidae152024+64%1997
European StarlingSturnidae122024-63%1997
Canada GooseAnatidae122023-22%2014
Red-bellied WoodpeckerPicidae112024-78%1997
Horned LarkAlaudidae102014+0%1997
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae102024-12%1997
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae102024-37%1997
Mourning DoveColumbidae92024-76%1997
Turkey VultureCathartidae82024-14%2000
Blue JayCorvidae82024-69%1997
Carolina WrenTroglodytidae82024-40%1997
Red-eyed VireoVireonidae72024+67%1999
Northern BobwhiteOdontophoridae62024-88%1997
Common GrackleIcteridae62024-73%1997
Cedar WaxwingBombycillidae62023+7%2001
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasseridae62016+0%2001
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae52024+50%1997
Common YellowthroatParulidae52024+14%1997
Black-capped ChickadeeParidae52024+100%1998
Eastern BluebirdTurdidae52024-76%1997
KilldeerCharadriidae42024-6%1997
Downy WoodpeckerPicidae42024+0%1998
Pileated WoodpeckerPicidae42024+100%2000
Great Crested FlycatcherTyrannidae42024+13%1997
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae42024+150%1997
Song SparrowPasserellidae42024-55%1997
Purple MartinHirundinidae42023-25%1997
American KestrelFalconidae42023+200%1999
Blue GrosbeakCardinalidae42024+0%2007
Eastern MeadowlarkIcteridae32024-64%1997
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae32023-14%1998

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-05-22. A route is a sample, not a census.