2026 Great Backyard Bird Count
The 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count took place during snowy weather conditions, which likely influenced both participation levels and bird activity. Compared to previous years, overall participation and total observation time were lower. Twenty patrons participated this year, contributing 122 hours and 16 minutes of observation time and documenting 1,521 individual birds across 38 species.
Snow conditions can impact visibility, accessibility, and bird movement patterns. Despite these challenges, participants still recorded a strong diversity of winter species. Notably, sparrows and classic backyard winter birds dominated this year’s count.
Species Trends
Dark-eyed Junco, a consistent top species in previous years, remained among the most observed birds in 2026. Northern Cardinal and Mourning Dove also continued their strong presence, reflecting stable winter populations in our area.
The appearance of “New World Sparrow species” as the most reported category suggests that snowy conditions may have made precise identification more difficult, leading observers to log birds at the species-group level.
Participation & Environmental Impact
While total bird counts and observation hours were significantly lower than in 2025 (a record-setting year), the data still contributes valuable community science information. Weather variability plays an important role in citizen science efforts, and even years with lower participation provide meaningful ecological insight.
The 2026 results highlight:
- The resilience of winter bird populations
- The impact of weather on community engagement
- The importance of continued participation, even in challenging conditions
Every tally sheet submitted helps contribute to global bird population tracking through eBird and supports long-term conservation research.
Participation Overview
- Number of Packets Handed Out: 90
- Number of Patrons Participating: 20
- Tally Sheets Returned: 59
Eligible Tally Sheets Entered into eBird: 59
Bird Observation Summary
- Observed Species: 38
Observed Individual Birds: 1,521
Observation Duration
- Total Duration in Minutes: 7,336 minutes
Total Duration in Hours: 122 hours and 16 minutes
Top 5 Most Observed Birds – GBBC 2026
- New World Sparrow species: 172 observed
- Northern Cardinal: 168 observed
- Mourning Dove: 159 observed
- Dark-eyed Junco: 156 observed
- Black-capped Chickadee: 110 observed
Species Results
Total Individual Birds Observed: 1,521
Species Listed Alphabetically
(By Common Name, with Scientific Name and Total Observed)
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) – 9
American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) – 1
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) – 9
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) – 70
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) – 2
Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) – 110
Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) – 104
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) – 2
Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) – 5
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) – 4
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) – 8
Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) – 5
Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) – 28
Cooper’s Hawk (Astur cooperii) – 1
Crow/Raven species (Corvus species) – 3
Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) – 156
Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) – 15
Downy/Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens / Leuconotopicus villosus) – 5
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) – 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) – 9
Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) – 4
Finch species (Fringillidae species) – 2
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) – 2
Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) – 19
Hawk species (Accipitridae species) – 8
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) – 76
House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) – 68
House/Purple Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus / purpureus) – 2
Mallard × American Black Duck (hybrid) (Anas platyrhynchos × rubripes) – 8
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) – 159
New World Sparrow species (Passerellidae species) – 172
Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) – 168
Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) – 2
Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) – 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) – 53
Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) – 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) – 8
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) – 16
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) – 1
Shorebird species (Charadriiformes species) – 15
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) – 103
Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) – 25
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) – 10
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) – 31
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) – 12
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) – 1
Woodpecker species (Picidae species) – 6
Species Listed by Count
(Highest to Lowest)
New World Sparrow species – 172
Northern Cardinal – 168
Mourning Dove – 159
Dark-eyed Junco – 156
Black-capped Chickadee – 110
Blue Jay – 104
Song Sparrow – 103
House Finch – 76
American Tree Sparrow – 70
House Sparrow – 68
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 53
White-throated Sparrow – 31
Common Grackle – 28
Tufted Titmouse – 25
Hairy Woodpecker – 19
Red-winged Blackbird – 16
Downy Woodpecker – 15
Shorebird species – 15
Wild Turkey – 12
White-breasted Nuthatch – 10
American Crow – 9
American Robin – 9
European Starling – 9
Carolina Wren – 8
Hawk species – 8
Mallard × American Black Duck (hybrid) – 8
Red-tailed Hawk – 8
Woodpecker species – 6
Brown-headed Cowbird – 5
Cedar Waxwing – 5
Downy/Hairy Woodpecker – 5
Canada Goose – 4
Field Sparrow – 4
Crow/Raven species – 3
Bald Eagle – 2
Brown Creeper – 2
Finch species – 2
Great Blue Heron – 2
House/Purple Finch – 2
Northern Flicker – 2
Northern Mockingbird – 2
American Herring Gull – 1
Cooper’s Hawk – 1
Eastern Towhee – 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1
Ring-billed Gull – 1
Winter Wren – 1
Great Backyard Bird Count 2025
Despite a drop in participation from 60 birdwatchers in 2024 to 29 in 2025, this year’s group recorded an incredible 6,495 birds—nearly twice as many as last year’s 3,360! They also spent 677 more hours birdwatching, undeterred by the inclement weather.
A huge THANK YOU to all the amazing patrons who joined forces to count birds for The Great Backyard Bird Count this year. Your recorded observations have played a crucial role in enhancing scientists' understanding of global bird populations just before their annual winter migration. Your dedication and participation are making a real difference in the world of bird conservation!
Tally Sheets Returned: 86
Observed Species: 57
Total Birds Counted: 6,495
Duration of Birdwatching: 1,745 hours and 57 minutes
Great Backyard Bird Count Results
Species Listed Alphabetically (By Common Name)
American Crow – 22
American Goldfinch – 88
American Herring Gull – 41
American Robin – 109
American Tree Sparrow – 35
Bird species – 59
Blackbird species – 32
Black-capped Chickadee – 288
Blue Jay – 412
Brown Thrasher – 4
Brown-headed Cowbird – 21
Canada Goose – 348
Carolina Wren – 96
Chestnut-backed Chickadee – 1
Chipping Sparrow – 34
Common Grackle – 32
Common Merganser – 8
Cooper’s Hawk – 2
Crow species – 103
Dark-eyed Junco – 1,028
Downy Woodpecker – 156
Downy/Hairy Woodpecker – 8
Eastern Bluebird – 26
Eastern Screech-Owl – 1
Eastern Towhee – 8
European Starling – 194
Field Sparrow – 14
Finch species – 12
Great Blue Heron – 5
Great Horned Owl – 1
Gull species – 18
Hairy Woodpecker – 43
Hawk species – 4
Hermit Thrush – 6
Hooded Merganser – 9
House Finch – 216
House Sparrow – 397
House/Purple Finch – 37
Mallard – 75
Mourning Dove – 438
Mute Swan – 8
New World Sparrow species – 82
Northern Cardinal – 475
Northern Flicker – 18
Northern Harrier – 1
Northern Mockingbird – 12
Owl species – 1
Pine Grosbeak – 1
Pine Siskin – 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 101
Red-breasted Nuthatch – 9
Red-tailed Hawk – 8
Red-winged Blackbird – 32
Ring-billed Gull – 26
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) – 20
Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1
Snow Goose – 2
Song Sparrow – 515
Tufted Titmouse – 217
Turkey Vulture – 2
White-breasted Nuthatch – 120
White-throated Sparrow – 237
Wild Turkey – 161
Winter Wren – 10
Woodpecker species – 3
Species Listed by Count (Highest to Lowest)
Dark-eyed Junco – 1,028
Song Sparrow – 515
Northern Cardinal – 475
Mourning Dove – 438
Blue Jay – 412
House Sparrow – 397
Canada Goose – 348
Black-capped Chickadee – 288
White-throated Sparrow – 237
Tufted Titmouse – 217
House Finch – 216
European Starling – 194
Wild Turkey – 161
Downy Woodpecker – 156
White-breasted Nuthatch – 120
American Robin – 109
Crow species – 103
Red-bellied Woodpecker – 101
Carolina Wren – 96
American Goldfinch – 88
New World Sparrow species – 82
Mallard – 75
Bird species – 59
Hairy Woodpecker – 43
American Herring Gull – 41
House/Purple Finch – 37
American Tree Sparrow – 35
Chipping Sparrow – 34
Red-winged Blackbird – 32
Common Grackle – 32
Blackbird species – 32
Ring-billed Gull – 26
Eastern Bluebird – 26
American Crow – 22
Brown-headed Cowbird – 21
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) – 20
Gull species – 18
Northern Flicker – 18
Field Sparrow – 14
Northern Mockingbird – 12
Finch species – 12
Winter Wren – 10
Hooded Merganser – 9
Red-breasted Nuthatch – 9
Mute Swan – 8
Common Merganser – 8
Red-tailed Hawk – 8
Downy/Hairy Woodpecker – 8
Eastern Towhee – 8
Hermit Thrush – 6
Great Blue Heron – 5
Hawk species – 4
Brown Thrasher – 4
Woodpecker species – 3
Snow Goose – 2
Turkey Vulture – 2
Cooper’s Hawk – 2
Pine Siskin – 2
Sharp-shinned Hawk – 1
Northern Harrier – 1
Eastern Screech-Owl – 1
Great Horned Owl – 1
Owl species – 1
Chestnut-backed Chickadee – 1
Pine Grosbeak – 1
