BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Illinois · BCR 22

Pontiac Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 86 species recorded across 45 survey years, still active.

86Species 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 →
45Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1978–2024Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on Illinois Pontiac

Top 40 of 86 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 BlackbirdIcteridae3342024+174%1980
Common GrackleIcteridae1472024-9%1980
European StarlingSturnidae1332024-42%1980
Canada GooseAnatidae1302024+306%2008
American RobinTurdidae1232024+173%1980
House SparrowPasseridae1092024-76%1980
Barn SwallowHirundinidae452024+19%1980
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae262024+664%1980
KilldeerCharadriidae252024+460%1980
Eastern MeadowlarkIcteridae242024+323%1980
DickcisselCardinalidae232024+478%1981
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae232024+53%1980
Song SparrowPasserellidae202024-31%1980
Mourning DoveColumbidae192024+80%1980
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae152024+550%1985
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae142024+388%1982
American CrowCorvidae132024-78%1980
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae102024+300%1982
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae102024+800%2000
House FinchFringillidae102024+7%1996
Horned LarkAlaudidae92023-92%1980
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae62024-61%1980
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae62024-54%1980
American GoldfinchFringillidae62024+89%1983
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae52024+60%1980
Blue JayCorvidae52024-63%1980
Northern CardinalCardinalidae52024+46%1980
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae52023+133%1997
MallardAnatidae42024+40%1990
Red-bellied WoodpeckerPicidae42024+117%1980
Purple MartinHirundinidae42024+150%1993
Eastern PhoebeTyrannidae42024+167%1994
Common YellowthroatParulidae32024+9%1980
BobolinkIcteridae31991+100%1982
Gray CatbirdMimidae32024+25%1984
Tufted TitmouseParidae32024+25%1991
Northern Rough-winged SwallowHirundinidae32012+117%1992
Downy WoodpeckerPicidae32024+200%1996
Tree SwallowHirundinidae32024+200%2023
Red-headed WoodpeckerPicidae22024-67%1980

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