BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · South Dakota · BCR 17

Cottonwood Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 90 species recorded across 31 survey years, still active.

90Species 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 →
31Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1992–2025Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on South Dakota Cottonwood

Top 40 of 90 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Cottonwood 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 MeadowlarkIcteridae5032025+96%1994
Lark BuntingPasserellidae1202025-8%1994
Canada GooseAnatidae28202512×2004
Eared GrebePodicipedidae272024-3%1994
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae232025-14%1994
American CootRallidae192025+20%1994
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae192025+80%1994
Mourning DoveColumbidae182025+103%1994
Horned LarkAlaudidae172025-74%1994
Northern PintailAnatidae152023+250%1995
MallardAnatidae142025+57%1994
GadwallAnatidae112024-33%1994
Burrowing OwlStrigidae92025+500%1998
Black TernLaridae92009+100%1995
American GoldfinchFringillidae91995+800%1994
Ring-necked DuckAnatidae92018+800%2010
KilldeerCharadriidae82025+35%1994
Blue-winged TealAnatidae82025+262%1995
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae82025-42%1998
Cinnamon TealAnatidae62004n/an/a
White-faced IbisThreskiornithidae62010n/an/a
American AvocetRecurvirostridae52024+175%1995
Pied-billed GrebePodicipedidae42022+29%1994
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae42024+125%1994
Brewer's SparrowPasserellidae42024-23%1994
Common GrackleIcteridae42025+100%2000
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae42025+200%1998
Sharp-tailed GrousePhasianidae42025+140%2008
American White PelicanPelecanidae42007-64%2003
Wood DuckAnatidae42006n/an/a
Ruddy DuckAnatidae32023+144%1994
Common NighthawkCaprimulgidae32025-73%1994
Western KingbirdTyrannidae32025+13%1998
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae32023+231%1994
Northern ShovelerAnatidae32025+360%1997
RedheadAnatidae32025+133%1997
American CrowCorvidae32011+200%2006
Orchard OrioleIcteridae22024-20%1998
Barn SwallowHirundinidae22023-60%1994
Northern Rough-winged SwallowHirundinidae22018+60%2003

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