BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Illinois · BCR 22

Pontiac Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 87 species recorded across 46 survey years, still active.

87Species 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 →
46Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1978–2025Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on Illinois Pontiac

Top 40 of 87 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Pontiac 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 BlackbirdIcteridae2332025+238%1980
American RobinTurdidae1442025+229%1980
European StarlingSturnidae772025-39%1980
Common GrackleIcteridae712025-12%1980
House SparrowPasseridae642025-68%1980
Barn SwallowHirundinidae532025+47%1980
KilldeerCharadriidae472025+693%1980
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae412025+864%1980
Mourning DoveColumbidae352025+74%1980
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae33202519×2000
DickcisselCardinalidae252025+722%1981
Eastern MeadowlarkIcteridae222025+469%1980
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae212025+625%1982
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae182025+103%1980
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae122025+700%1985
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae112025-56%1980
Song SparrowPasserellidae112025-13%1980
Northern CardinalCardinalidae112025+55%1980
House FinchFringillidae112025+73%1996
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae102024+300%1982
Eurasian Collared-DoveColumbidae102025+167%2007
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae72025-37%1980
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae62025+160%1980
Red-bellied WoodpeckerPicidae52025+133%1980
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae52023+133%1997
Great Crested FlycatcherTyrannidae42025-11%1980
Canada GooseAnatidae42025+314%2008
Horned LarkAlaudidae32025-91%1980
American CrowCorvidae32025-82%1980
Common YellowthroatParulidae32025+27%1980
BobolinkIcteridae31991+100%1982
Tufted TitmouseParidae32024+25%1991
American KestrelFalconidae32025+0%1985
Northern Rough-winged SwallowHirundinidae32012+117%1992
Downy WoodpeckerPicidae32024+200%1996
Sedge WrenTroglodytidae32025n/an/a
MallardAnatidae22025+40%1990
Chimney SwiftApodidae22024-67%1980
Savannah SparrowPasserellidae21993-78%1980
Brown ThrasherMimidae22025-67%1980

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