BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Minnesota · BCR 12

Backus Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 143 species recorded across 47 survey years, still active.

143Species 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 →
47Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1967–2024Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on Minnesota Backus

Top 40 of 143 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Backus 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
Common YellowthroatParulidae512024+66%1969
VeeryTurdidae462024+120%1969
OvenbirdParulidae392024+246%1969
Canada GooseAnatidae362021+340%1994
Red-eyed VireoVireonidae332024+127%1969
Sedge WrenTroglodytidae282024+394%1970
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae222024-39%1969
Least FlycatcherTyrannidae202024+112%1969
Yellow WarblerParulidae162024-19%1969
American CrowCorvidae152024-25%1969
Song SparrowPasserellidae152024-27%1969
American RedstartParulidae152024+250%1969
Tree SwallowHirundinidae132024+175%1969
Ruffed GrousePhasianidae112013-28%1970
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae112024+55%1969
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae102024-56%1969
American GoldfinchFringillidae102024+12%1969
DickcisselCardinalidae92022+400%2019
Mourning DoveColumbidae82024+42%1969
American RobinTurdidae82024-19%1969
Black TernLaridae82002+467%1971
BobolinkIcteridae72024+8%1969
Eastern TowheePasserellidae72024+33%1969
Blue JayCorvidae72024+21%1970
Wilson's SnipeScolopacidae72024+122%1971
Great Crested FlycatcherTyrannidae62024-59%1969
Gray CatbirdMimidae62024+153%1969
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae62024+89%1969
Swamp SparrowPasserellidae62024+183%1975
Rock PigeonColumbidae62024+400%1990
Caspian TernLaridae61992+500%1989
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae52024+25%1969
Clay-colored SparrowPasserellidae52024-63%1969
Barn SwallowHirundinidae52024-7%1969
SoraRallidae52019+75%1971
American WoodcockScolopacidae51981+25%1968
Purple MartinHirundinidae51997-59%1970
Marsh WrenTroglodytidae52024+67%1979
Wood ThrushTurdidae52024+71%2014
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae42022-33%1969

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