More than five years after a landmark study revealed a staggering decline in North American bird populations, a new report underscores that the troubling trend shows no signs of reversing.
The 2025 U.S. State of the Birds report, released by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and other conservation groups, paints a stark picture of bird population health across the United States. The report, presented March 13 at the 90th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, highlights that a third of American bird species are now of high or moderate concern, with significant declines in forest, grassland, and arid-land birds.
Among the most alarming findings: populations of Eastern and Western forest birds are continuing to decline, with rates worsening in the West. Grassland birds have plummeted by 43% since 1970, and arid-land species have declined by 41%. Even waterfowl, a group that had seen gains in previous decades, have suffered a 20% population drop since 2014.
Forty-two species—including the greater prairie-chicken, yellow-billed magpie, and tricolored blackbird—have been classified as Red-Alert Tipping Point Species due to their critically low numbers. Another 37 species, such as the chimney swift and evening grosbeak, are now considered at high risk due to long-term declines.
“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, senior director at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and co-chair of the report’s science committee. “If conditions are not healthy for birds, they’re unlikely to be healthy for us.”
Despite these grim statistics, the report also offers a glimmer of hope. Successful conservation efforts, such as a 2009 initiative spanning 16 coastal states, have led to measurable population rebounds, including a 43% increase in American oystercatchers. The report emphasizes the potential for innovative solutions, including conservation ranching, coastal restoration, and forest renewal, to halt or reverse declines.
Waterfowl populations, once a success story, now face new threats from drought, the rollback of wetland protections, and agricultural expansion. However, experts like Steve Adair, chief scientist for Ducks Unlimited, stress that proven conservation strategies can still turn the tide. “Many bird populations are struggling. But a proven blueprint for success is science-based planning and collaborative investment in habitat conservation,” Adair said.
Beyond environmental concerns, the report notes the broader impact of bird conservation on society. Birdwatching-related activities contribute an estimated $279 billion to the U.S. economy annually, and studies suggest that encounters with birds can significantly improve mental health by reducing stress and anxiety while enhancing overall well-being.
“Fortunately, many of the actions that are good for birds are good for us,” Rodewald added. “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, with contributions from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
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