More than five years after a landmark study in the journal Science showed that North American bird populations declined by nearly 30% since 1970, a new report finds that the concerning trend is continuing apace.
The 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report - an assessment of the health of the nation's bird populations, published by scientists from U.S. conservation groups, including the Cornell Lab of Ornithology - shows that bird populations across the United States are still in decline, with the losses touching the majority of bird groups and habitats from coast to coast. And some of the bright spots from recent reports, such as a long-term increase in waterfowl numbers, are beginning to dim.
The report was presented March 13 at the 90th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, which included wildlife and resource managers from around the country.
Key findings in the new report include:
- About a third of American birds (229 species) are of high or moderate concern due to low populations, declining trends or other threats to their survival;
- Both Eastern and Western forest birds are continuing to decline overall, and the rates of decline are increasing in the West;
- Grassland and arid-land birds in the U.S. are among the fastest declining groups (43% and 41% declines, respectively, since 1970); and
- Waterfowl populations, which have increased overall since 1970, have declined by 20% since 2014.
In total, 42 species are classified as Red-Alert Tipping Point Species - including greater prairie-chicken, yellow-billed magpie and tricolored blackbird - meaning they have perilously low populations. An additional 37 species are considered Orange Alert, indicating that their populations are declining long-term, and that those declines are accelerating. Birds in this group include widespread species such as chimney swift, evening grosbeak and Eastern towhee.
"The rapid declines in birds signal the intensifying stressors that wildlife and people alike are experiencing around the world because of habitat loss, environmental degradation and extreme weather events," said Amanda Rodewald, Garvin Professor and senior director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Center for Avian Population Studies, and co-chair of the science committee for the new report. "When we see declines like those outlined in the report, we also need to remember that if conditions are not healthy for birds, they're unlikely to be healthy for us."
Despite the worrying trends, the report emphasizes that concerted efforts and strategic investments can recover bird populations. One of several examples included is a 2009 initiative to coordinate funding and management across 16 coastal states that led to a 43% increase in the regional population of American oystercatchers, a shorebird species now bucking the overall trend of declines. The authors also point to innovative opportunities such as conservation ranching, coastal restoration, forest renewal and seabird translocation that can spark turnarounds for birds.
When it comes to the recent waterfowl declines - which the report attributes to drought, rollbacks in wetland protections and conversion of wetlands to row-crop agriculture - Steve Adair, chief scientist for Ducks Unlimited, acknowledges the challenges detailed in the report while taking heart in the successes seen in recent decades.
"Many bird populations are struggling. But a proven blueprint for success is science-based planning and collaborative investment in habitat conservation," Adair said. "Decades of strategic and aggressive wetland habitat conservation from hunters, landowners, state and federal agencies, and corporations has boosted numerous waterfowl and waterbird species when weather conditions are favorable. We've shown it works."
The report also cites an economic analysis estimating that birding-related activities generate $279 million in total annual economic output for the U.S. each year, and points to a string of recent research showing encounters with birds can reduce stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms while increasing life satisfaction and sense of peace.
"Fortunately, many of the actions that are good for birds are good for us," Rodewald said. "When we protect the habitats that birds rely upon, we also protect the ecosystem services that sustain us."
The State of the Birds report is a publication of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI), with contributions from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Marc Devokaitis is an associate editor for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
