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BBS Route · Illinois · BCR 22

Mill Creek Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 100 species recorded across 57 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 →
57Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1966–2025Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on Illinois Mill Creek

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

Species recorded on the Mill Creek 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 RobinTurdidae622025+120%1968
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae592025-72%1968
Canada GooseAnatidae46202313×1999
House SparrowPasseridae432025-81%1968
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae282025+121%1968
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae252025+109%1968
Northern CardinalCardinalidae232025+943%1968
Mourning DoveColumbidae202025+29%1968
Northern Rough-winged SwallowHirundinidae202025+575%1969
European StarlingSturnidae192025-69%1968
Song SparrowPasserellidae192025-41%1968
KilldeerCharadriidae172025+633%1968
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae17202514×1968
American CrowCorvidae152025+17%1968
DickcisselCardinalidae142025-80%1968
Horned LarkAlaudidae112025-28%1968
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae112025+18%1968
Eastern MeadowlarkIcteridae102025-73%1968
Barn SwallowHirundinidae102025+88%1968
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae92025+414%1980
American GoldfinchFringillidae82025-5%1968
Gray CatbirdMimidae72025+175%1968
Red-bellied WoodpeckerPicidae72025+933%1974
Downy WoodpeckerPicidae62025+50%1968
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae52025+0%1968
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae52025+325%1969
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae52019-96%1968
Common GrackleIcteridae52025-76%1968
Common YellowthroatParulidae52025-13%1968
House FinchFringillidae52025+88%1995
Eurasian Tree SparrowPasseridae52023+67%2017
Gray PartridgePhasianidae41988-68%1977
Rock PigeonColumbidae42025-60%1968
Blue JayCorvidae42025-19%1968
Eastern BluebirdTurdidae42025+200%1969
Rose-breasted GrosbeakCardinalidae42025+71%1969
Baltimore OrioleIcteridae32025+78%1968
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae32025-73%1968
Field SparrowPasserellidae32025-71%1968
Black-capped ChickadeeParidae32024+150%1968

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. A route is a sample, not a census.