BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · South Dakota · BCR 17

Badlands Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 94 species recorded across 35 survey years, still active.

94Species 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 →
35Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1982–2025Span
10Observers

Bird Species Found on South Dakota Badlands

Top 40 of 94 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Badlands 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
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae3722025+163%1984
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae3152025+69%1984
Mourning DoveColumbidae1142025+93%1984
American CrowCorvidae882025+869%1984
Horned LarkAlaudidae622025+9%1984
Lark BuntingPasserellidae572025+26%1986
Barn SwallowHirundinidae51202513×1985
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae47202511×1991
Lark SparrowPasserellidae302025+255%1986
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae292025+160%1984
Burrowing OwlStrigidae282025+660%1987
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae252025-43%1986
Blue GrosbeakCardinalidae242025+240%1990
Wild TurkeyPhasianidae172025+191%2000
American CootRallidae14199714×1987
Violet-green SwallowHirundinidae142025n/an/a
Tree SwallowHirundinidae132012+333%1984
Common GrackleIcteridae112023+7%1985
KilldeerCharadriidae102025-13%1984
White-throated SwiftApodidae92001+9%1993
Rock PigeonColumbidae92025+318%1997
House SparrowPasseridae82025-59%2000
Canada GooseAnatidae82016+13%2002
Turkey VultureCathartidae72025+625%1984
Black-billed MagpieCorvidae62025-44%1984
Spotted TowheePasserellidae62025-21%1985
Yellow-breasted ChatIcteriidae62025+275%1992
Bank SwallowHirundinidae52012-90%1987
Bell's VireoVireonidae52025+75%2000
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae42025+120%1987
Western KingbirdTyrannidae42025+57%1986
Rock WrenTroglodytidae42023+42%1984
American GoldfinchFringillidae42025+125%1991
Yellow WarblerParulidae42023+17%1993
Swainson's HawkAccipitridae32001+20%1987
Field SparrowPasserellidae32025-78%1991
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae32023+40%1987
Common NighthawkCaprimulgidae32021+60%1993
Upland SandpiperScolopacidae32025-17%1987
Black-headed GrosbeakCardinalidae32003+200%1991

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