BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Texas · BCR 18

Plains Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 69 species recorded across 43 survey years, still active.

69Species 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 →
43Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1968–2025Span
9Observers

Bird Species Found on Texas Plains

Top 40 of 69 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Plains 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
Chihuahuan MeadowlarkIcteridae82202513×1979
Mourning DoveColumbidae662025+461%1971
Cassin's SparrowPasserellidae522025+119%1971
Western KingbirdTyrannidae47202537×1972
Scaled QuailOdontophoridae392025+377%1971
Lark BuntingPasserellidae322018+11%1994
Northern BobwhiteOdontophoridae292025+290%1971
Common RavenCorvidae271977-33%1974
Horned LarkAlaudidae242025+6%1972
Bullock's OrioleIcteridae18202515×1971
Northern MockingbirdMimidae182025-12%1971
Common NighthawkCaprimulgidae122025+160%1971
Lark SparrowPasserellidae122025+233%1971
Northern HarrierAccipitridae101993+64%1972
Ash-throated FlycatcherTyrannidae72025+225%1976
Chihuahuan RavenCorvidae62025-93%1973
Great-tailed GrackleIcteridae52025+167%2002
KilldeerCharadriidae42025+150%1980
House SparrowPasseridae42025-88%1971
Greater RoadrunnerCuculidae42018+200%1980
House FinchFringillidae42025+180%1977
Barn SwallowHirundinidae42025-59%1995
Brewer's SparrowPasserellidae41998+100%1995
Common GrackleIcteridae42025+0%2017
Burrowing OwlStrigidae32025-54%1972
Brown-headed CowbirdIcteridae32025+80%1977
Blue GrosbeakCardinalidae32025+175%1979
Curve-billed ThrasherMimidae32025+100%1981
American KestrelFalconidae32023+33%1983
European StarlingSturnidae32019-13%1984
Ring-necked PheasantPhasianidae32017-62%1995
Eurasian Collared-DoveColumbidae32025-20%2011
Cliff SwallowHirundinidae32017+50%2015
VerdinRemizidae32016+50%2015
Long-billed CurlewScolopacidae21972-50%1968
Rock PigeonColumbidae22023-25%1994
Swainson's HawkAccipitridae22025+100%1974
Western MeadowlarkIcteridae22024-50%1971
Loggerhead ShrikeLaniidae22025-65%1971
Field SparrowPasserellidae21972n/an/a

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