State · BBS 2025 Release · 1966–2024
Kentucky Breeding Birds
149 species recorded across 64 survey routes, 1966 to 2024. 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 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 →
Cliff Swallow has surged in Kentucky: up 77× 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 35× 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 -55%Black-and-white Warbler +17%Black-throated Green Warbler +90%Blue-winged Warbler +20%Cerulean Warbler -57%Common Yellowthroat -16%Hooded Warbler +144%Kentucky Warbler +22%Louisiana Waterthrush +119%Northern Parula 24×Ovenbird +55%Pine Warbler +42%Prairie Warbler +54%Prothonotary Warbler +51%Swainson's Warbler +15%Worm-eating Warbler +69%Yellow Warbler -82%Yellow-throated Warbler +437%
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 2026-05-22.