BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Minnesota · BCR 12

Backus Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 145 species recorded across 48 survey years, still active.

145Species 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 →
48Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1967–2025Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on Minnesota Backus

Top 40 of 145 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
VeeryTurdidae492025+127%1969
Common YellowthroatParulidae382025+46%1969
Red-eyed VireoVireonidae372025+120%1969
OvenbirdParulidae322025+233%1969
Sedge WrenTroglodytidae322025+406%1970
American CrowCorvidae312025-16%1969
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae302025-34%1969
Yellow WarblerParulidae262025-13%1969
American GoldfinchFringillidae212025+124%1969
Song SparrowPasserellidae192025-16%1969
Least FlycatcherTyrannidae172025+128%1969
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae162025+82%1969
American RobinTurdidae162025+0%1969
American RedstartParulidae142025+222%1969
Eastern TowheePasserellidae132025+125%1969
Yellow-bellied SapsuckerPicidae132025+113%1983
Gray CatbirdMimidae122025+116%1969
Wilson's SnipeScolopacidae122025+244%1971
Swamp SparrowPasserellidae122025+267%1975
Ruffed GrousePhasianidae112013-28%1970
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae102025+189%1969
Mourning DoveColumbidae92025+17%1969
Great Crested FlycatcherTyrannidae92025-54%1969
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae92025-57%1969
DickcisselCardinalidae92022+400%2019
BobolinkIcteridae82025+31%1969
Black TernLaridae82002+467%1971
Black-and-white WarblerParulidae82025+140%1979
Clay-colored SparrowPasserellidae72025-68%1969
Barn SwallowHirundinidae72025-39%1969
Eastern PhoebeTyrannidae62025-40%1970
Blue JayCorvidae62025+16%1970
Rock PigeonColumbidae62024+400%1990
Caspian TernLaridae61992+500%1989
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae52025+6%1969
Chestnut-sided WarblerParulidae52025-17%1969
Eastern BluebirdTurdidae52025+43%1969
SoraRallidae52019+75%1971
American WoodcockScolopacidae51981+25%1968
Purple MartinHirundinidae51997-59%1970

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