Bird migration refers to the seasonal movement of bird populations between their breeding grounds and overwintering sites. Many birds migrate long distances, with some species migrating thousands of kilometers between their summer and winter habitats. There are many examples of impressively long migrations completed by different bird species around the world.
The Arctic Tern
The Arctic tern has the longest migration of any bird in the world. This small seabird breeds in the Arctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia during the summer months. In the fall, Arctic terns embark on an extraordinary journey all the way down to the coast of Antarctica where they spend the winter months. Roundtrip, their annual migration covers over 70,000 km, meaning an Arctic tern may travel over 1.5 million km during its lifetime.
Key Facts
- Species: Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea)
- Migration route: Arctic breeding grounds to the Antarctic coast and back again
- Distance: Over 70,000 km roundtrip
- Speed: Can fly at speeds over 90 km/h
- Lifetime distance: Potentially over 1.5 million km
The Bar-tailed Godwit
The bar-tailed godwit undertakes an epic non-stop migration flight every year. These medium-sized shorebirds breed in Alaska during the boreal summer before migrating all the way to New Zealand and Australia. Some individuals may fly for over 10 days straight covering around 10,000-12,000 km without stopping to rest or refuel.
Key Facts
- Species: Bar-tailed godwit (Limosa lapponica)
- Migration route: Alaska to Australia/New Zealand
- Distance: Over 10,000 km non-stop
- Duration: 8-10 days of continuous flight
The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
The tiny ruby-throated hummingbird migrates remarkably long distances every spring and fall between North America and Central America. Their migration occurs over the Gulf of Mexico where the hummingbirds make a non-stop flight of 500-600 miles over 18-22 hours. With wings beating up to 75 times per second, they burn up an enormous amount of energy for their size during this journey.
Key Facts
- Species: Ruby-throated hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
- Migration route: Between North America and Central America
- Distance: 500-600 miles non-stop over Gulf of Mexico
- Duration: 18-22 hours non-stop
- Tiny size: 3-6 grams in weight
The Common Swift
The common swift is a small bird that breeds during the summer throughout much of Europe and Asia. In the fall, some populations migrate all the way to southern Africa while others overwinter in south Asia. The common swifts are capable of flying huge distances non-stop, remaining airborne for months at a time by feeding, drinking, mating, and even sleeping on the wing.
Key Facts
- Species: Common swift (Apus apus)
- Migration routes: Between Europe/Asia and Africa
- Distance: Over 10,000 km for some routes
- Flight duration: Can stay airborne for months
- Sleep: Sleeps while flying
The Barn Swallow
Barn swallows are small migratory birds found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. They breed across North America, Europe, and Asia in the summer then migrate south to warmer climates like South and Central America for winter. Some populations fly enormous distances between their breeding and wintering grounds. For example, birds that breed in Alaska winter as far south as Argentina covering 14,000-18,000 km roundtrip.
Key Facts
- Species: Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)
- Migration routes: North America, Europe, and Asia to Central and South America
- Distance: Up to 18,000 km roundtrip for some populations
- Speed: Average around 50 km/h but up to 190 km/h
The Pied Flycatcher
The pied flycatcher is a small migratory bird found across much of Europe and parts of Asia. Their breeding range extends as far north as Scandinavia and Siberia. For winter, they migrate down to Africa, crossing the Mediterranean Sea and Sahara Desert. One population that breeds in northern Europe winters in southern Africa, making a migratory journey of around 12,500 km roundtrip.
Key Facts
- Species: Pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
- Migration route: Between Europe/Asia and Africa
- Distance: Around 12,500 km roundtrip for some populations
- Hazards: Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea
The Sedge Warbler
The sedge warbler is a small, insect-eating songbird that breeds across Europe and western Asia during spring and summer. By late summer, they migrate down to sub-Saharan Africa where they overwinter in the tropics until the following spring. Their migration covers 7,500-10,000 km between the breeding and wintering grounds depending on the exact population.
Key Facts
- Species: Sedge warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
- Migration route: Between Europe/western Asia and Africa
- Distance: 7,500-10,000 km
- Hazards: Sahara Desert and Mediterranean Sea
The Bobolink
The bobolink is a small blackbird that breeds in grasslands across much of southern Canada and the northern United States. After breeding, they migrate all the way down through Central America to southern South America. Their migratory route encompasses 12,500 km on average making it one of the longest migrations in the Western Hemisphere.
Key Facts
- Species: Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)
- Migration route: Between northern North America and southern South America
- Distance: Around 12,500 km on way
- Hazards: Gulf of Mexico crossing
The Gray Catbird
Gray catbirds are medium-sized songbirds that breed in shrubby habitats across much of North America. Northern populations that breed in Canada migrate all the way to Central America and northern South America for the winter. Their migration routes can cover up to 7,500 km roundtrip taking them through the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.
Key Facts
- Species: Gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
- Migration route: Between North America and Central/South America
- Distance: Up to 7,500 km roundtrip
- Hazards: Gulf of Mexico crossing
The Northern Wheatear
The northern wheatear is a small songbird that breeds in northern regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. Birds that nest in Alaska migrate all the way to eastern and southern Africa for winter – a journey of up to 15,000 km each way. Their migration route includes a 3,000 km non-stop flight over the Atlantic Ocean from Canada or Greenland to Africa.
Key Facts
- Species: Northern wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
- Migration route: Between Alaska and Africa
- Distance: Up to 15,000 km one way
- Non-stop over Atlantic: Up to 3,000 km
The Red Knot
The red knot is a medium-sized shorebird with one of the longest migrations in the animal kingdom. Some populations fly more than 18,000 km from their arctic breeding grounds all the way to the southern tip of South America for winter. Their journey includes non-stop flights over oceans that can cover over 5,000 km.
Key Facts
- Species: Red knot (Calidris canutus)
- Migration route: Between arctic and southern South America
- Distance: Over 18,000 km one way for some populations
- Non-stop over Atlantic: 5,000 km
The White Stork
The white stork is a large migratory bird found across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Northern populations breed across much of Europe before migrating down to Sub-Saharan Africa for the winter. Their annual migration distance can exceed 10,000 km roundtrip. Some tagged storks have recorded incredibly long roundtrip migrations of over 22,000 km from Poland to South Africa.
Key Facts
- Species: White stork (Ciconia ciconia)
- Migration route: Between Europe/Asia and Africa
- Distance: Over 10,000 km roundtrip, sometimes much longer
- Extreme record: 22,000 km roundtrip (Poland to South Africa)
The Osprey
The osprey is a large fish-eating raptor that breeds across temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. Northern populations migrate south for winter while some southern populations are resident year-round. Ospreys that breed in North America migrate down to South and Central America for winter. Some individuals travel over 5,000 miles roundtrip on their annual migration.
Key Facts
- Species: Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
- Migration routes: Between North America/Europe/Asia and southern wintering regions
- Distance: Up to 5,000 miles roundtrip in North America
- Speed: Can reach speeds over 45 mph
The Golden Plover
The golden plover is a medium-sized shorebird with an extensive breeding range across arctic regions of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Iceland, and Eurasia. They undertake an epic migration down to southern South America each winter. Some fly non-stop for around 88 hours covering over 4,000 km from Nova Scotia to northern South America.
Key Facts
- Species: Golden plover (Pluvialis dominica OR Pluvialis fulva)
- Migration route: Between the arctic and South America
- Distance: Up to 15,000 km one way
- Non-stop flight: 4,000 km over 88 hours
Conclusion
Bird migration is a spectacular phenomenon that allows species to take advantage of seasonal food availability and breeding conditions across immense distances. The migrations undertaken by Arctic terns, bar-tailed godwits, hummingbirds, swifts, swallows, flycatchers, warblers, blackbirds, catbirds, wheatears, knots, storks, ospreys, plovers, and many other birds are awe-inspiring. Tracking technology has allowed us to better appreciate just how far some birds travel between their seasonal habitats. While migrating, birds face immense challenges ranging from long-distance flights over oceans, deserts, and other inhospitable terrain to declines in stopover habitat along their routes. Habitat loss on the wintering grounds is a major threat for many declining migratory bird populations today.