BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · North Carolina · BCR 28

Highlands Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 73 species recorded across 27 survey years, still active.

73Species 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 →
27Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1994–2024Span
4Observers

Bird Species Found on North Carolina Highlands

Top 40 of 73 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Highlands 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
Red-eyed VireoVireonidae402024+51%1998
Hooded WarblerParulidae362024+37%1998
Black-throated Green WarblerParulidae212024+76%1998
American CrowCorvidae192024-6%1998
Eastern TowheePasserellidae172024+7%1998
Northern ParulaParulidae132024+23%1998
Carolina WrenTroglodytidae132024+3%1998
Tufted TitmouseParidae132024+43%1998
Northern CardinalCardinalidae122024+37%1998
Scarlet TanagerCardinalidae122024-3%1998
Blue-headed VireoVireonidae122024+11%1998
OvenbirdParulidae122024-27%1998
Carolina ChickadeeParidae112024+17%1999
Acadian FlycatcherTyrannidae102024+29%1998
Chestnut-sided WarblerParulidae102015+675%1998
Wood ThrushTurdidae102024-26%1998
Eastern PhoebeTyrannidae92024+114%1998
Song SparrowPasserellidae72024-11%1998
Red-breasted NuthatchSittidae72024+200%2001
Swainson's WarblerParulidae62024+144%2001
Hairy WoodpeckerPicidae42024+75%2005
Black-and-white WarblerParulidae42024+225%1998
American RobinTurdidae42024-41%1998
Broad-winged HawkAccipitridae42023+100%2012
Pileated WoodpeckerPicidae42024-65%1999
Worm-eating WarblerParulidae32024+200%1998
Common RavenCorvidae32024+75%2004
Downy WoodpeckerPicidae22022+100%1998
Blue JayCorvidae22023+38%1998
American GoldfinchFringillidae22024+0%1998
Rose-breasted GrosbeakCardinalidae22015+50%2011
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae22024+33%2004
VeeryTurdidae22017-14%2008
Mourning DoveColumbidae12023-83%1998
Chimney SwiftApodidae12023-50%1994
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae12014+20%2000
Indigo BuntingCardinalidae12024-84%1998
Black-throated Blue WarblerParulidae12024-81%1998
Blackburnian WarblerParulidae12023+20%1998
Yellow-throated WarblerParulidae12024-22%2007

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