State of the Birds Report 2025
- The Earth & I Editorial Team
- Apr 17
- 2 min read
Except for Waterfowl and Waterbirds, Long-Term Populations Trending Down
The North American Bird Conservation Initiative, a forum of government agencies, private organizations, and bird initiatives in the US, Canada, and Mexico, published the 2025 edition of the State of the Birds Report in March. The report tracks trends of bird species in the US and recommends that 229 of the 718 bird species should be “prioritized in conservation planning.” Below are key findings from the report.
Out of 718 species, 489 (68%) are of low concern. But 112 species (16%) are of high concern and 117 species (16%) are of moderate concern.
The 112 species of high concern have “lost more than 50% of their populations in the last 50 years” and about 42 of these species have “perilously low populations and steep declining trends.” These included Allen’s Hummingbird, Tricolored Blackbird, and Saltmarsh Sparrow.
Two of the eight bird categories—waterfowl (dabbling and diving ducks) and waterbirds—had increasing population trends compared with 1970. The waterfowl population was at +24% while waterbirds were at +16%.
However, the remaining six categories—Sea Ducks, Western Forest Birds, Eastern Forest Birds, Shorebirds, Aridland Birds, and Grassland Birds—all saw population declines since 1970.
Two categories—aridland and shorebirds—had no species with increasing populations. Instead, among aridland birds, there were 14 species that were stable and 17 species in decline, with a 41% decline overall. Shorebirds had nine stable species and 19 in decline, with an overall 33% decline.
Grassland birds had the overall highest decline of 43%. Grasslands are being lost due to conversion for row-crop agriculture, woody-plant invasion, and drought, with the Great Plains losing 1 million to 2 million acres of grasslands per year.
Western forest birds and Eastern forest birds had overall declines of 11% and 27%, respectively. Western forest birds have been declining due to habitat (forest) degradation, while Eastern forest birds suffer from short-rotation harvesting, pest outbreaks, residential development, and agriculture.
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