State · BBS 2026 Release · 1966–2025
Kentucky Breeding Birds
151 species recorded across 64 survey routes, 1966 to 2025. Browse by family or guild below.
Kentucky Bird Population TrendsNotable signalsLong-arc shifts the engine flags automatically — sustained declines or increases large enough to stand out from year-to-year noise.Full methodology →
long arc declinecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →
Grasshopper Sparrow has collapsed in Kentucky: down 98% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
long arc increasecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →
Cliff Swallow has surged in Kentucky: up 85× on the route-weighted index since 1979.
long arc declinecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →
Bewick's Wren has collapsed in Kentucky: down 97% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
long arc increasecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →
House Finch has surged in Kentucky: up 40× on the route-weighted index since 1984.
long arc declinecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →
Loggerhead Shrike has collapsed in Kentucky: down 96% on the route-weighted index since 1968.
long arc increasecomputed indexTrend sourceWhether the figure is our own computed route-weighted index or an official USGS modeled estimate. The current build labels every trend as computed.Full methodology →
Tree Swallow has surged in Kentucky: up 39× on the route-weighted index since 1985.
How Bird Guilds Are Faring in KentuckyGuild trendA mean-index aggregate across the species in this group — the structural direction of the guild, with individual-species noise smoothed out.Full methodology →
Kentucky Bird Survey Routes
Browse Kentucky Birds By FamilyTrendPercent 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 →
Each species links to its trend in Kentucky.
Hawks, Eagles & Kites Accipitridae
Larks Alaudidae
Kingfishers Alcedinidae
Swifts Apodidae
Herons, Egrets & Bitterns Ardeidae
Waxwings Bombycillidae
Nightjars & Nighthawks Caprimulgidae
Cardinals & Grosbeaks Cardinalidae
Plovers & Lapwings Charadriidae
Falcons & Caracaras Falconidae
Finches Fringillidae
Swallows & Martins Hirundinidae
Blackbirds & Orioles Icteridae
Shrikes Laniidae
New World Quail Odontophoridae
Osprey Pandionidae
Wood-Warblers Parulidae
American Redstart -69%Black-and-white Warbler -26%Black-throated Green Warbler +90%Blue-winged Warbler +36%Cerulean Warbler -73%Common Yellowthroat -14%Hooded Warbler +97%Kentucky Warbler +19%Louisiana Waterthrush +44%Northern Parula 23×Ovenbird +27%Pine Warbler +34%Prairie Warbler +15%Prothonotary Warbler +39%Swainson's Warbler +15%Worm-eating Warbler +53%Yellow Warbler -80%Yellow-throated Warbler +321%
New World Sparrows Passerellidae
Old World Sparrows Passeridae
Pheasants, Grouse & Turkeys Phasianidae
Woodpeckers Picidae
Gnatcatchers Polioptilidae
Sandpipers & Allies Scolopacidae
Starlings & Mynas Sturnidae
Hummingbirds Trochilidae
Tyrant Flycatchers Tyrannidae
Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14.