BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · South Dakota · BCR 17

Lightning Cr Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 79 species recorded across 31 survey years, still active.

79Species 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 Lightning Cr

Top 40 of 79 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Lightning Cr 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
American RobinTurdidae532025-34%1994
Western TanagerCardinalidae42202512×1994
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae23202517×2001
Red CrossbillFringillidae192025-34%1994
Red-breasted NuthatchSittidae142025-58%1994
Western Wood-PeweeTyrannidae132025+400%1994
American CrowCorvidae122025+18%1994
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae122025+388%1994
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae112025+142%1995
Warbling VireoVireonidae102025+139%1994
Spotted TowheePasserellidae102025+425%2003
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae92025+100%1995
Red-eyed VireoVireonidae81998+225%1996
Townsend's SolitaireTurdidae72025+467%1994
Song SparrowPasserellidae61998-33%1992
Tree SwallowHirundinidae62025-72%1994
Violet-green SwallowHirundinidae62022-12%1995
Common GrackleIcteridae62025+500%2017
Common NighthawkCaprimulgidae52022-39%1994
Plumbeous VireoVireonidae52025-54%1994
OvenbirdParulidae52022-76%1994
Mountain BluebirdTurdidae52025+100%1994
Rock PigeonColumbidae52022+117%1999
Mourning DoveColumbidae42025+39%1994
Pine SiskinFringillidae42008-67%1995
White-breasted NuthatchSittidae42025+29%1994
Bank SwallowHirundinidae41993n/an/a
White-throated SwiftApodidae42025+9%1999
Red-headed WoodpeckerPicidae42025+550%2007
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae32025-86%1994
Golden-crowned KingletRegulidae32002+0%1992
American KestrelFalconidae32025+200%2005
Canada GooseAnatidae32002+50%1997
Eastern KingbirdTyrannidae32025+40%2006
Dusky FlycatcherTyrannidae32025-77%2001
Lewis's WoodpeckerPicidae32021+0%2013
Brewer's BlackbirdIcteridae22025+133%1996
Red-tailed HawkAccipitridae22022+50%1995
Common YellowthroatParulidae22002+125%1997
Swainson's ThrushTurdidae22000n/an/a

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