BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Massachusetts · BCR 30

Gay Head Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 93 species recorded across 26 survey years, still active.

93Species 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 →
26Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1996–2025Span
2Observers

Bird Species Found on Massachusetts Gay Head

Top 40 of 93 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Gay Head 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
European StarlingSturnidae722025+58%2001
Gray CatbirdMimidae702025-49%2001
Eastern TowheePasserellidae382025-50%2001
Common YellowthroatParulidae332025-36%2001
Common GrackleIcteridae302025-59%2001
Black-capped ChickadeeParidae302025-19%2001
Carolina WrenTroglodytidae292025+36%2001
Red-eyed VireoVireonidae272025+78%2001
Yellow WarblerParulidae222025-14%2001
Least TernLaridae212024+425%2013
American CrowCorvidae192025-52%2001
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae192025+41%2001
American RobinTurdidae172025-67%2001
Song SparrowPasserellidae162025-48%2001
Mourning DoveColumbidae152025-53%2001
Baltimore OrioleIcteridae152025+110%2001
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae142025+48%2001
Barn SwallowHirundinidae142024-22%2001
Northern CardinalCardinalidae122025-4%2001
Great Crested FlycatcherTyrannidae92025+5%2001
Blue JayCorvidae92025-32%2001
House FinchFringillidae82025-63%2001
American GoldfinchFringillidae82025-80%2001
Red-bellied WoodpeckerPicidae72025+50%2001
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae72025-49%2001
Pine WarblerParulidae72025+24%2001
OvenbirdParulidae72025+173%2001
House SparrowPasseridae62025-41%2001
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae52025-33%2001
Great Black-backed GullLaridae42023-57%2001
Tufted TitmouseParidae42025+317%2008
Herring GullLaridae32025-88%2001
Common TernLaridae32025-48%2006
OspreyPandionidae32025-20%2004
Bank SwallowHirundinidae32025-74%2001
American RedstartParulidae32025+133%2001
Northern MockingbirdMimidae32025+120%2001
Wood DuckAnatidae32010n/an/a
Chimney SwiftApodidae32025+200%2021
Double-crested CormorantPhalacrocoracidae22025-58%2001

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