BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Illinois · BCR 22

Essex Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 77 species recorded across 49 survey years, still active.

77Species 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 →
49Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1969–2024Span
8Observers

Bird Species Found on Illinois Essex

Top 40 of 77 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Essex 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 BlackbirdIcteridae1972024+2%1971
American RobinTurdidae982024+828%1971
Common GrackleIcteridae802024+14%1971
European StarlingSturnidae272024-75%1971
KilldeerCharadriidae272024+658%1973
House SparrowPasseridae222024-65%1971
DickcisselCardinalidae192024+97%1971
Northern CardinalCardinalidae152024+575%1976
Song SparrowPasserellidae142024+27%1971
Eastern MeadowlarkIcteridae122024+153%1971
Barn SwallowHirundinidae122024+208%1971
Mourning DoveColumbidae102024+206%1971
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae102024+617%1972
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae102024+140%1975
American CrowCorvidae82024-84%1971
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae72024+507%1973
Chimney SwiftApodidae72024+83%1972
Tree SwallowHirundinidae62024+117%2004
Rock PigeonColumbidae52024-76%1971
Horned LarkAlaudidae52024-80%1971
American GoldfinchFringillidae52022-7%1971
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae52024+200%1981
Wood DuckAnatidae51995n/an/a
Belted KingfisherAlcedinidae41990+300%1985
Cedar WaxwingBombycillidae42019+200%2014
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae32024-89%1971
Blue JayCorvidae32021+50%1979
Blue-winged TealAnatidae31979n/an/a
Savannah SparrowPasserellidae22014-50%1972
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae22001-74%1971
Purple MartinHirundinidae21991+33%1975
Common YellowthroatParulidae22024+67%1971
Northern BobwhiteOdontophoridae22014+33%1972
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae22024+267%1977
Yellow-billed CuckooCuculidae22018-29%1977
Bank SwallowHirundinidae22006+100%1971
Eastern Screech-OwlStrigidae21974+100%1972
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae22019+67%1994
Northern Rough-winged SwallowHirundinidae22021+25%1980
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae22024-64%2015

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