BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · South Dakota · BCR 17

Badlands Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 91 species recorded across 34 survey years, still active.

91Species 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 →
34Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1982–2023Span
9Observers

Bird Species Found on South Dakota Badlands

Top 40 of 91 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
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae3352023+28%1984
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae1982023+161%1984
Mourning DoveColumbidae1132023+29%1984
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae652023+148%1984
Wild TurkeyPhasianidae292023+119%2000
American CrowCorvidae242023+339%1984
Lark BuntingPasserellidae192023-64%1986
Horned LarkAlaudidae182023-58%1984
Turkey VultureCathartidae152022+475%1984
Barn SwallowHirundinidae152023+486%1985
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae152023+575%1991
Lazuli BuntingCardinalidae152014+320%2006
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae142023-65%1986
American CootRallidae14199714×1987
Tree SwallowHirundinidae132012+333%1984
Common GrackleIcteridae112023+7%1985
Brown ThrasherMimidae92023+57%1986
White-throated SwiftApodidae92001+9%1993
Yellow-breasted ChatIcteriidae82022+150%1992
Canada GooseAnatidae82016+13%2002
Lark SparrowPasserellidae72023+18%1986
Blue GrosbeakCardinalidae72023+50%1990
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae52023+60%1987
Field SparrowPasserellidae52023-45%1991
Upland SandpiperScolopacidae52023-33%1987
Bank SwallowHirundinidae52012-90%1987
Rock WrenTroglodytidae42023+42%1984
Yellow WarblerParulidae42023+17%1993
Swainson's HawkAccipitridae32001+20%1987
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae32023+40%1987
Common NighthawkCaprimulgidae32021+60%1993
Burrowing OwlStrigidae32023+280%1987
American GoldfinchFringillidae32022+50%1991
Black-headed GrosbeakCardinalidae32003+200%1991
American White PelicanPelecanidae32006-30%1999
Gray CatbirdMimidae32014+200%2012
KilldeerCharadriidae22023-53%1984
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae22023+17%1997
Black-billed CuckooCuculidae21997-33%1982
Hairy WoodpeckerPicidae22004+100%1982

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