BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Nebraska · BCR 18

Benkelman Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 80 species recorded across 33 survey years, still active.

80Species 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 →
33Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1986–2025Span
5Observers

Bird Species Found on Nebraska Benkelman

Top 40 of 80 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Benkelman 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
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae1042025-21%1988
Mourning DoveColumbidae632025-30%1988
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae412025-12%1988
DickcisselCardinalidae242025+850%1989
Horned LarkAlaudidae232025+36%1988
Greater Prairie-ChickenPhasianidae192025+900%2001
European StarlingSturnidae182025-41%1996
Rock PigeonColumbidae162025+229%1994
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae162025+207%1988
American AvocetRecurvirostridae151991n/an/a
Lark SparrowPasserellidae132025+94%1988
Orchard OrioleIcteridae112025+660%1990
Canada GooseAnatidae101998n/an/a
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae92025-16%1988
Western KingbirdTyrannidae82025+0%1988
Eurasian Collared-DoveColumbidae72025+130%2014
Lark BuntingPasserellidae62025-68%1988
House FinchFringillidae62022+175%2003
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae52025+267%1989
Blue GrosbeakCardinalidae42025+178%1989
KilldeerCharadriidae42025-13%1990
Burrowing OwlStrigidae42025+75%1991
Swainson's HawkAccipitridae42025+233%2002
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae42025+140%1997
Cassin's SparrowPasserellidae42022-52%2000
MallardAnatidae32018-50%1997
House SparrowPasseridae32025-33%1988
American RobinTurdidae32025+88%1988
Chimney SwiftApodidae32017+200%1991
Blue JayCorvidae32025+233%1998
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae32007+33%2004
American GoldfinchFringillidae32022+67%2000
Black-crowned Night HeronArdeidae32004n/an/a
Red-headed WoodpeckerPicidae22025-20%1988
American CrowCorvidae22025-62%1992
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae22025+33%1989
Baltimore OrioleIcteridae22025+100%1996
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae22025-25%1997
Northern PintailAnatidae21991n/an/a
Northern ShovelerAnatidae21998+0%1996

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