BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Iowa · BCR 22

Melrose Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 98 species recorded across 49 survey years, still active.

98Species 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 →
1974–2025Span
4Observers

Bird Species Found on Iowa Melrose

Top 40 of 98 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Melrose 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 BlackbirdIcteridae1152025-2%1976
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae712025+667%1993
American RobinTurdidae362025+15%1976
Mourning DoveColumbidae322025-27%1976
DickcisselCardinalidae252025-63%1976
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae212025+7%1976
House SparrowPasseridae212025-69%1976
American CrowCorvidae202025+222%1976
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae202025+121%1976
Common YellowthroatParulidae182025-38%1976
European StarlingSturnidae172025+8%1976
Eastern MeadowlarkIcteridae152025+16%1976
Common GrackleIcteridae142025-72%1976
Song SparrowPasserellidae132025+288%1976
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae122025+286%1976
Purple MartinHirundinidae122025+88%1986
KilldeerCharadriidae112025+156%1977
Northern CardinalCardinalidae112025+238%1976
Barn SwallowHirundinidae112025-54%1976
Gray CatbirdMimidae102025+218%1976
Tree SwallowHirundinidae102024+300%1983
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae92025+220%1991
American GoldfinchFringillidae82025-44%1976
Rose-breasted GrosbeakCardinalidae72025+167%1976
Turkey VultureCathartidae62025-18%1979
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae62025+82%1976
Cedar WaxwingBombycillidae62025+109%1997
Red-headed WoodpeckerPicidae52025-56%1976
Northern BobwhiteOdontophoridae42025-75%1976
Brown ThrasherMimidae42025-33%1976
Warbling VireoVireonidae42025+250%1979
Northern MockingbirdMimidae42025+100%1982
Acadian FlycatcherTyrannidae41979n/an/a
Canada GooseAnatidae42025+4%1985
Eurasian Collared-DoveColumbidae42025+60%2017
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae32025-80%1976
Eastern PhoebeTyrannidae32025-25%1978
Great Horned OwlStrigidae32009+100%1985
Orchard OrioleIcteridae32025+67%1991
Black-billed CuckooCuculidae32025+50%1984

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