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BBS Route · Illinois · BCR 24

Birds Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 100 species recorded across 31 survey years, still active.

100Species 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 →
31Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1976–2024Span
7Observers

Bird Species Found on Illinois Birds

Top 40 of 100 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Birds 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
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae1182024-52%1978
European StarlingSturnidae1042024-3%1978
House SparrowPasseridae532024-68%1978
Mourning DoveColumbidae392024-20%1978
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae332024+1%1978
American CrowCorvidae312024+326%1978
Barn SwallowHirundinidae302024-30%1978
American RobinTurdidae252024+12%1978
Northern BobwhiteOdontophoridae192024-29%1978
Northern CardinalCardinalidae192024+22%1978
Common YellowthroatParulidae172024-10%1978
Purple MartinHirundinidae152024+86%1978
Tufted TitmouseParidae152024+215%1979
Baltimore OrioleIcteridae152024+100%1979
KilldeerCharadriidae132024+14%1979
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae132024+82%1979
Canada GooseAnatidae132023-28%2007
Cedar WaxwingBombycillidae112022+175%1982
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae112010+725%1994
Blue JayCorvidae102024-79%1978
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae9202412×1982
Chimney SwiftApodidae82023-46%1978
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae82024+73%1978
Field SparrowPasserellidae82024+0%1978
DickcisselCardinalidae82024+65%1978
Warbling VireoVireonidae82024+213%1978
Carolina ChickadeeParidae82024+39%1979
Rock PigeonColumbidae82022-73%1980
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae82022n/an/a
Red-bellied WoodpeckerPicidae72024+15%1978
Blue-gray GnatcatcherPolioptilidae72024+263%1979
Common GrackleIcteridae62024-91%1978
American GoldfinchFringillidae62024+0%1979
Northern MockingbirdMimidae62024-41%1978
Brown ThrasherMimidae62022-17%1978
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae62024+100%1980
House FinchFringillidae62024+14%1993
Red-headed WoodpeckerPicidae52024-60%1978
Downy WoodpeckerPicidae52024+27%1980
Yellow WarblerParulidae52024+167%1981

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