BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Illinois · BCR 22

Sterling Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 86 species recorded across 20 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 →
20Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
2001–2023Span
5Observers

Bird Species Found on Illinois Sterling

Top 40 of 86 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Sterling 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 BlackbirdIcteridae1702023-8%2003
House SparrowPasseridae1422023-1%2003
American RobinTurdidae902023-5%2003
Mourning DoveColumbidae482023+17%2003
KilldeerCharadriidae382023+112%2003
European StarlingSturnidae352023-53%2003
Eastern MeadowlarkIcteridae292023+19%2003
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae282023+354%2003
Northern CardinalCardinalidae252023+94%2003
Song SparrowPasserellidae242023+30%2003
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae222023+181%2003
Horned LarkAlaudidae212023+29%2003
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae202023+2%2003
American CrowCorvidae182023+73%2003
DickcisselCardinalidae182023+239%2006
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae172023+233%2007
Rock PigeonColumbidae132023-9%2003
Common GrackleIcteridae132023-81%2003
Barn SwallowHirundinidae132023-46%2003
Chimney SwiftApodidae112023-61%2003
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae102023+167%2003
Northern Rough-winged SwallowHirundinidae102023+77%2003
Common YellowthroatParulidae102023+47%2003
Eurasian Collared-DoveColumbidae102023+750%2014
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae92023-45%2007
Bank SwallowHirundinidae82007-56%2001
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae72023-55%2003
American GoldfinchFringillidae62023-36%2003
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae62023+125%2003
Canada GooseAnatidae42023+257%2006
Red-bellied WoodpeckerPicidae42023-14%2003
Warbling VireoVireonidae42023+225%2003
Gray CatbirdMimidae42023+100%2003
Eastern PhoebeTyrannidae32023+100%2007
House FinchFringillidae32023-30%2003
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae32021+100%2010
Downy WoodpeckerPicidae32023+150%2018
American WoodcockScolopacidae32019n/an/a
Northern BobwhiteOdontophoridae22015-50%2003
American KestrelFalconidae22023-10%2007

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