BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Nebraska · BCR 19

Surprise Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 93 species recorded across 56 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 →
56Years 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
2Observers

Bird Species Found on Nebraska Surprise

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

Species recorded on the Surprise 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
American RobinTurdidae1792024+337%1969
Common GrackleIcteridae1442024-13%1969
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae1402024+28%1969
Mourning DoveColumbidae852024-5%1969
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae832024+133%1969
DickcisselCardinalidae582024+36%1969
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae35202421×1969
KilldeerCharadriidae35202413×1973
House SparrowPasseridae342024-58%1969
Barn SwallowHirundinidae332024+129%1969
Northern BobwhiteOdontophoridae292024+775%1970
Brown ThrasherMimidae252024+3%1969
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae232024-76%1969
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae222024+16%1969
Northern CardinalCardinalidae22202412×1975
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae192024+29%2016
Rock PigeonColumbidae172024+5%1969
Baltimore OrioleIcteridae172024+346%1969
Horned LarkAlaudidae17202414×1986
Western Cattle-EgretArdeidae161995n/an/a
European StarlingSturnidae152024+38%1969
Common YellowthroatParulidae14202413×1970
Eurasian Collared-DoveColumbidae142024+208%2013
Canada GooseAnatidae122022-65%2015
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae92024-70%1969
Upland SandpiperScolopacidae92024+420%1983
Gray CatbirdMimidae82024+360%1969
Yellow WarblerParulidae82024+250%1972
Blue JayCorvidae72024+217%1969
Warbling VireoVireonidae72024+320%1979
Red-headed WoodpeckerPicidae62024+9%1969
House FinchFringillidae62023+150%2005
Loggerhead ShrikeLaniidae42008+200%1971
Field SparrowPasserellidae42024-58%2007
Wild TurkeyPhasianidae42024+100%2016
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae32024+0%1972
Chimney SwiftApodidae32019-30%1969
Blue GrosbeakCardinalidae32023+125%1974
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae32022+25%1969
Orchard OrioleIcteridae32024+143%1970

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