BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · South Dakota · BCR 17

Hill City Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 80 species recorded across 20 survey years, still active.

80Species 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 →
20Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1992–2013Span
3Observers

Bird Species Found on South Dakota Hill City

Top 40 of 80 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Hill City 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
Ruby-crowned KingletRegulidae552013-12%1998
White-throated SwiftApodidae421997n/an/a
American RobinTurdidae402013-42%1994
Warbling VireoVireonidae332013+131%1997
Red-breasted NuthatchSittidae262013+71%1994
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae212013+85%1994
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae182013+10%1994
Dusky FlycatcherTyrannidae152013+580%1997
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae152013+217%1994
Western Wood-PeweeTyrannidae152013+317%1999
Black-capped ChickadeeParidae142013+920%1994
American CrowCorvidae122013+159%1995
Mountain BluebirdTurdidae102013+46%1994
Common YellowthroatParulidae92013+7%1996
Red CrossbillFringillidae82013+117%1995
OvenbirdParulidae82013+110%1996
Red-naped SapsuckerPicidae72013+240%1997
Vesper SparrowPasserellidae72013+120%2008
Townsend's SolitaireTurdidae72013+100%1994
Song SparrowPasserellidae72013+313%1998
Barn SwallowHirundinidae52013+167%1994
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae52013+233%2008
Turkey VultureCathartidae52013+40%2007
Rock PigeonColumbidae52012+400%2003
Pine SiskinFringillidae42013-87%1996
Western TanagerCardinalidae42013+200%1996
Wild TurkeyPhasianidae32013+125%1999
House SparrowPasseridae32013-70%1998
Clark's NutcrackerCorvidae32009n/an/a
Downy WoodpeckerPicidae22008+250%1994
Plumbeous VireoVireonidae22013+100%1995
Hairy WoodpeckerPicidae22013+83%1998
Canada JayCorvidae22013-36%1997
Canada GooseAnatidae22013-90%1995
Brown CreeperCerthiidae22013+67%2004
White-breasted NuthatchSittidae22013+300%1999
Spotted SandpiperScolopacidae22011+100%2001
Yellow WarblerParulidae22009+0%2001
Western KingbirdTyrannidae22003n/an/a
OspreyPandionidae22013+33%2009

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