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BREEDING BIRD SPECIES TRENDS

Below are the BCN Survey population trends of breeding birds of the Chicago Region between 1999 and 2012. Click on a species' name below to view an individual species page with additional details. Hover over any of the fields of data to pull up a pop-up box with an explanation of the field. You can read more about the analysis methods here.

Grassland  |  Shrubland  |  Woodland  |  Wetland  |  Urban/Introduced

GRASSLANDS
Grasslands
SPECIES
Trend
% Error
Cons. Status
Cred.
Points
Records
Freq.
Eastern Bluebird
8%
+/-5%
Good
205
629
11%
Tree Swallow
7%
+/-2%
Good
501
4608
28%
Barn Swallow
7%
+/-3%
Good
343
1370
19%
Henslow's Sparrow
5%
+/-2%
Lvl 2
Good
220
1995
12%
Dickcissel
4%
+/-3%
Lvl 2
Good
263
2328
15%
Killdeer
4%
+/-5%
Mod*
156
515
9%
Common Yellowthroat
3%
+/-1%
Good
743
5304
41%
Bobolink
2%
+/-1%
Lvl 1
Good
293
8323
16%
Field Sparrow
1%
+/-1%
Lvl 2
Good
480
3977
27%
Brown-headed Cowbird
0%
+/-2%
Good
722
4188
40%
Song Sparrow
0%
+/-1%
Good
868
8895
48%
Red-winged Blackbird
-1%
+/-1%
Good
895
33377
50%
Savannah Sparrow
-1%
+/-2%
Good
281
3253
16%
Eastern Kingbird
-1%
+/-3%
Lvl 2
Good
344
907
19%
Eastern Meadowlark
-4%
+/-1%
Lvl 2
Good
387
3646
22%
Sedge Wren
-5%
+/-3%
Lvl 2
Good
183
899
10%
Mourning Dove
-5%
+/-3%
Good
361
1347
20%
Grasshopper Sparrow
-6%
+/-2%
Lvl 1
Good
259
1162
14%
Ring-necked Pheasant
-8%
+/-4%
Good
129
284
7%
American Kestrel
-12%
+/-11%
Lvl 2
Mod*
31
41
2%
POORLY KNOWN TRENDS
Sandhill Crane
18%
+/-18%
Poor
38
66
2%
Clay-colored Sparrow
8%
+/-26%
Poor
12
33
1%
Northern Harrier
-11%
+/-18%
IL-E, IN-E
Poor
9
11
1%
American Woodcock
-14%
+/-22%
Lvl 2
Poor
14
23
1%
Vesper Sparrow
-27%
+/-19%
Poor
23
63
1%
Western Meadowlark
-37%
+/-29%
Lvl 3
Poor
12
22
1%
Horned Lark
-41%
+/-33%
Poor
13
44
1%
Northern Mockingbird
--
+/---
Poor
3
4
0%
Brewer's Blackbird
--
+/---
Poor
1
4
0%
Northern Bobwhite
--
+/---
Lvl 1
Poor
2
4
0%
Lark Sparrow
--
+/---
Poor
2
2
0%
Upland Sandpiper
--
+/---
Lvl 2
Poor
1
1
0%
Common Nighthawk
--
+/---
Lvl 2
Poor
1
1
0%
SHRUBLANDS
Shrublands
SPECIES
Trend
% Error
Cons. Status
Cred.
Points
Records
Freq.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
7%
+/-3%
Good
303
961
17%
Orchard Oriole
6%
+/-5%
Good
122
337
7%
Eastern Towhee
6%
+/-3%
Good
346
1363
19%
Common Yellowthroat
3%
+/-1%
Good
743
5304
41%
Cedar Waxwing
3%
+/-3%
Good
366
1669
20%
Common Grackle
2%
+/-2%
Good
597
4024
33%
Field Sparrow
1%
+/-1%
Lvl 2
Good
480
3977
27%
Gray Catbird
1%
+/-1%
Good
639
3376
36%
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
1%
+/-8%
Mod
60
99
3%
Brown-headed Cowbird
0%
+/-2%
Good
722
4188
40%
Song Sparrow
0%
+/-1%
Good
868
8895
48%
Blue Jay
0%
+/-2%
Good
685
2998
38%
Northern Cardinal
0%
+/-3%
Good
823
4092
46%
Brown Thrasher
0%
+/-3%
Lvl 2
Good
243
587
14%
Red-winged Blackbird
-1%
+/-1%
Good
895
33377
50%
Eastern Kingbird
-1%
+/-3%
Lvl 2
Good
344
907
19%
Yellow-breasted Chat
-1%
+/-7%
Lvl 2
Mod
53
143
3%
Willow Flycatcher
-2%
+/-2%
Lvl 2
Good
296
1923
16%
Yellow Warbler
-2%
+/-2%
Good
380
2370
21%
Chipping Sparrow
-2%
+/-8%
Mod
67
110
4%
American Goldfinch
-3%
+/-2%
Good
883
7843
49%
Warbling Vireo
-4%
+/-3%
Good
179
532
10%
Blue-winged Warbler
-4%
+/-9%
Lvl 2
Mod
46
87
3%
Mourning Dove
-5%
+/-3%
Good
361
1347
20%
Chestnut-sided Warbler
-11%
+/-9%
Mod
27
49
2%
POORLY KNOWN TRENDS
Clay-colored Sparrow
8%
+/-26%
Poor
12
33
1%
Black-billed Cuckoo
4%
+/-17%
Lvl 1
Poor
28
31
2%
Bell's Vireo
-8%
+/-18%
Lvl 2
Poor
9
29
1%
American Redstart
-10%
+/-21%
Poor
17
36
1%
American Woodcock
-14%
+/-22%
Lvl 2
Poor
14
23
1%
White-eyed Vireo
-26%
+/-24%
Poor
24
33
1%
Alder Flycatcher
--
+/---
Poor
9
10
1%
Northern Mockingbird
--
+/---
Poor
3
4
0%
Northern Bobwhite
--
+/---
Lvl 1
Poor
2
4
0%
Lark Sparrow
--
+/---
Poor
2
2
0%
Blue Grosbeak
--
+/---
Poor
2
2
0%
Loggerhead Shrike
--
+/---
Lvl 1
Poor
1
1
0%
WOODLANDS
Woodlands
SPECIES
Trend
% Error
Cons. Status
Cred.
Points
Records
Freq.
Chimney Swift
16%
+/-6%
Lvl 2
Mod
143
327
8%
Cooper's Hawk
13%
+/-8%
Good*
89
132
5%
White-breasted Nuthatch
9%
+/-2%
Good
379
1338
21%
Eastern Bluebird
8%
+/-5%
Good
205
629
11%
Yellow-throated Vireo
8%
+/-8%
Mod
74
108
4%
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
7%
+/-3%
Good
303
961
17%
Red-bellied Woodpecker
7%
+/-2%
Good
465
1508
26%
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
7%
+/-4%
Good
253
471
14%
Orchard Oriole
6%
+/-5%
Good
122
337
7%
Eastern Towhee
6%
+/-3%
Good
346
1363
19%
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
6%
+/-8%
Lvl 2
Mod
99
115
6%
Downy Woodpecker
5%
+/-2%
Good
524
1426
29%
Hairy Woodpecker
4%
+/-5%
Good
173
269
10%
Cedar Waxwing
3%
+/-3%
Good
366
1669
20%
American Robin
3%
+/-1%
Good
1018
9362
57%
Eastern Phoebe
3%
+/-8%
Mod
82
126
5%
Hooded Warbler
3%
+/-9%
WI-T
Mod
51
102
3%
Common Grackle
2%
+/-2%
Good
597
4024
33%
Indigo Bunting
2%
+/-1%
Good
705
3446
39%
Scarlet Tanager
2%
+/-4%
Good
211
423
12%
Veery
2%
+/-8%
Lvl 3
Mod
43
133
2%
Gray Catbird
1%
+/-1%
Good
639
3376
36%
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
1%
+/-8%
Mod
60
99
3%
Eastern Wood-Pewee
1%
+/-2%
Good
440
1878
24%
Baltimore Oriole
1%
+/-3%
Good
416
1259
23%
Red-eyed Vireo
1%
+/-2%
Good
466
1943
26%
Great Crested Flycatcher
1%
+/-2%
Good
419
966
23%
Black-capped Chickadee
1%
+/-2%
Good
621
2947
35%
Brown-headed Cowbird
0%
+/-2%
Good
722
4188
40%
Blue Jay
0%
+/-2%
Good
685
2998
38%
Northern Cardinal
0%
+/-3%
Good
823
4092
46%
Red-tailed Hawk
-1%
+/-4%
Good
174
340
10%
Chipping Sparrow
-2%
+/-8%
Mod
67
110
4%
Northern Flicker
-2%
+/-2%
Lvl 2
Good
539
1374
30%
House Wren
-2%
+/-3%
Good
603
2364
34%
Warbling Vireo
-4%
+/-3%
Good
179
532
10%
Mourning Dove
-5%
+/-3%
Good
361
1347
20%
Red-headed Woodpecker
-5%
+/-7%
Lvl 1
Mod
63
132
4%
Tufted Titmouse
-7%
+/-8%
Mod
38
57
2%
Wood Thrush
-10%
+/-3%
Lvl 3
Good
197
456
11%
Chestnut-sided Warbler
-11%
+/-9%
Mod
27
49
2%
Great Horned Owl
-12%
+/-9%
Mod
36
53
2%
Ovenbird
-13%
+/-5%
Good
68
147
4%
American Crow
-21%
+/-3%
Good
375
1289
21%
POORLY KNOWN TRENDS
Acadian Flycatcher
32%
+/-67%
Lvl 3
Poor
11
21
1%
Summer Tanager
23%
+/-23%
Poor
14
25
1%
Carolina Wren
7%
+/-17%
Poor
18
27
1%
Belted Kingfisher
3%
+/-10%
Poor
37
52
2%
Turkey Vulture
-1%
+/-11%
Poor
47
72
3%
Least Flycatcher
-3%
+/-10%
Poor
39
48
2%
Kentucky Warbler
-6%
+/-22%
Poor
12
17
1%
American Redstart
-10%
+/-21%
Poor
17
36
1%
Prothonotary Warbler
-12%
+/-27%
Lvl 3
Poor
6
11
0%
Broad-winged Hawk
-12%
+/-15%
Poor
14
16
1%
American Woodcock
-14%
+/-22%
Lvl 2
Poor
14
23
1%
Red-shouldered Hawk
-31%
+/-29%
WI-T
Poor
11
16
1%
Pileated Woodpecker
--
+/---
Poor
11
11
1%
Yellow-throated Warbler
--
+/---
Poor
6
8
0%
Louisiana Waterthrush
--
+/---
Lvl 3
Poor
6
6
0%
Northern Parula
--
+/---
Poor
3
5
0%
Cerulean Warbler
--
+/---
Lvl 2
Poor
4
4
0%
Brown Creeper
--
+/---
Poor
3
3
0%
Barred Owl
--
+/---
Poor
3
3
0%
Black-and-white Warbler
--
+/---
Poor
3
3
0%
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
--
+/---
Poor
2
3
0%
Worm-eating Warbler
--
+/---
Poor
2
2
0%
Wild Turkey
--
+/---
Poor
1
1
0%
Red-breasted Nuthatch
--
+/---
Poor
1
1
0%
Black-thR. Green Warbler
--
+/---
Poor
1
1
0%
WETLANDS
Wetland
SPECIES
Trend
% Error
Cons. Status
Cred.
Points
Records
Freq.
Blue-winged Teal
16%
+/-11%
Mod*
46
142
3%
Great Blue Heron
10%
+/-4%
Good
257
830
14%
Double-crested Cormorant
10%
+/-6%
Mod
98
345
5%
N. Rough-winged Swallow
9%
+/-5%
Mod
129
585
7%
Tree Swallow
7%
+/-2%
Good
501
4608
28%
Barn Swallow
7%
+/-3%
Good
343
1370
19%
Canada Goose
6%
+/-6%
Mod
137
1700
8%
Mallard
5%
+/-3%
Good
285
2399
16%
Killdeer
4%
+/-5%
Mod*
156
515
9%
Common Yellowthroat
3%
+/-1%
Good
743
5304
41%
Wood Duck
3%
+/-6%
Mod
98
664
5%
Green Heron
1%
+/-6%
Mod
98
191
5%
Song Sparrow
0%
+/-1%
Good
868
8895
48%
Red-winged Blackbird
-1%
+/-1%
Good
895
33377
50%
Swamp Sparrow
-7%
+/-5%
Mod
67
232
4%
POORLY KNOWN TRENDS
Hooded Merganser
50%
+/-72%
Poor
10
28
1%
Great Egret
38%
+/-16%
WI-T
Poor
116
537
6%
Sandhill Crane
18%
+/-18%
Poor
38
66
2%
Sora
10%
+/-18%
Lvl 3
Poor
16
27
1%
Bank Swallow
8%
+/-22%
Poor
15
32
1%
Black-crowned Night-Heron
7%
+/-11%
Lvl 2
Poor
33
75
2%
Belted Kingfisher
3%
+/-10%
Poor
37
52
2%
American Coot
3%
+/-17%
Poor
27
80
2%
Spotted Sandpiper
2%
+/-10%
Poor
35
89
2%
Pied-billed Grebe
2%
+/-10%
Lvl 2
Poor
34
117
2%
Purple Martin
1%
+/-12%
Poor
21
44
1%
Yellow-headed Blackbird
-2%
+/-22%
Lvl 2
Poor
16
40
1%
Marsh Wren
-16%
+/-22%
Lvl 3
Poor
81
347
5%
Gadwall
--
+/---
Poor
6
14
0%
Virginia Rail
--
+/---
Lvl 3
Poor
7
10
0%
Cliff Swallow
--
+/---
Poor
6
10
0%
Cattle Egret
--
+/---
Poor
2
8
0%
Ruddy Duck
--
+/---
Poor
4
7
0%
Northern Shoveler
--
+/---
Poor
4
6
0%
Wilson's Snipe
--
+/---
Lvl 2
Poor
4
5
0%
Least Bittern
--
+/---
Lvl 2
Poor
4
5
0%
Northern Pintail
--
+/---
Poor
1
4
0%
Common Gallinule
--
+/---
Lvl 2
Poor
2
3
0%
American Bittern
--
+/---
Lvl 1
Poor
1
1
0%
Green-winged Teal
--
+/---
Poor
1
1
0%
Wilson's Phalarope
--
+/---
Lvl 2
Poor
1
1
0%
URBAN & INTRODUCED
Urban
SPECIES
Trend
% Error
Cons. Status
Cred.
Points
Records
Freq.
Ring-billed Gull
5%
+/-5%
Mod
157
1080
9%
House Finch
-7%
+/-7%
Mod
62
159
3%
POORLY KNOWN TRENDS
Herring Gull
20%
+/-38%
Poor
8
19
0%
Mute Swan
17%
+/-23%
Poor
13
78
1%
European Starling
-5%
+/-4%
Poor*
256
2015
14%
House Sparrow
-10%
+/-6%
Poor*
82
511
5%
Rock Pigeon
-21%
+/-12%
Poor
34
177
2%
Common Nighthawk
--
+/---
Lvl 2
Poor
1
1
0%
Peregrine Falcon
--
+/---
IL-T, WI-E
Poor
1
1
0%
 
THE 2013 TRENDS ANALYSIS IS A PROJECT BY:
Bird Conservation Network

PRINT BROCHURES: Funded by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources from contributions to the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund