Bird migration is a fascinating phenomenon that involves birds traveling long distances each year. Many species of birds migrate, from tiny hummingbirds to large raptors like eagles. These birds undertake incredible journeys, flying thousands of miles between their summer breeding grounds and wintering grounds. But just how fast do birds fly during migration?
How Do Birds Migrate?
Before looking at migration speeds, it’s important to understand how bird migration works. Migration allows birds to take advantage of abundant seasonal resources, while avoiding harsh winters or dry seasons. Birds have an internal clock and innate navigation ability that tells them when to migrate and in what direction to travel. Their migration paths are called flyways.
Birds migrate at different times of year based on their species. In North America, most birds migrate in spring and fall. Species that breed in the Arctic may migrate huge distances between their wintering and breeding grounds. Other birds may only migrate a few hundred miles between regions. Some patterns seen in bird migration include:
- Northern species migrate south in the fall to warmer regions, and return north in the spring.
- Tropical species move north in the spring to take advantage of increasing insect populations, and retreat south when resources decline.
- Nomadic species follow unpredictable migration routes, tracking the availability of water and food.
Birds use a combination of innate abilities and learned behaviors to navigate during migration. They can detect magnetic fields and celestial cues from stars or the sun to orient themselves. Birds may also follow coastlines and mountain ranges, or retrace their path from previous journeys.
How Fast Do Birds Migrate?
Migration speed varies greatly depending on the species of bird. Larger birds tend to migrate faster than smaller birds. This is due to their ability to fly efficiently for long periods and take advantage of wind patterns. Small birds often spread their migration out over many weeks, including short flights interspersed with stopovers to rest and feed. However, some small birds still make remarkably speedy migrations.
According to records, the fastest migrating bird is the great snipe. This medium-sized shorebirdbreeds in Scandinavia and migrates in a direct southwesterly route to Africa. One great snipe was recorded traveling over 7,000 miles in just 6 days. This comes out to an average speed of nearly 60 miles per hour over the course of its journey!
Other very fast migrating birds include:
- Bar-tailed godwits – Recorded traveling over 6,000 miles in just 6 days from Alaska to New Zealand.
- Ruby-throated hummingbird – Flies 500 miles across the Gulf of Mexico in 20 hours, averaging 25 mph.
- Arctic tern – Known for the longest migration of any animal at over 40,000 miles round trip. They travel at around 35 mph.
- Blackpoll warbler – Flies up to 1,700 miles nonstop over open ocean at speeds averaging 37 mph.
Maximum Flight Speeds
These average migration speeds are calculated over the course of the birds’ entire journeys, including periods of rest and feeding. Maximum flight speeds for short distances tend to be much higher. Some of the fastest recorded flight speeds of migrating birds include:
Species | Maximum Recorded Speed |
Peregrine falcon | 200 mph |
Golden eagle | 150 mph |
Canvasback (duck) | 90 mph |
Mallard (duck) | 75 mph |
Teal (duck) | 70 mph |
American golden plover | 65 mph |
As you can see, birds built for speed and hunting like falcons can reach extremely fast flight speeds. Even heftier birds like ducks can reach 70+ mph in flight. Overall, most migrating songbirds tend to average between 20-40 mph based on radar tracking studies.
What Factors Affect Migration Speed?
Many different factors influence how fast birds can migrate:
Wind Patterns
One of the most important factors allowing birds to achieve fast migration speeds is wind assistance. Birds strategically plan migration to take advantage of prevailing tailwinds. Winds help push the birds in the right direction, allowing them to conserve energy. Some species like bar-tailed godwits even ride storm systems across oceans.
Fuel Reserves
Birds prepare for migration by consuming high-fat foods to build up fat stores. This fuel reserves provide the energy needed for flight. Birds with more fat and energy can fly faster and farther without needing to stopover to feed.
Weather Conditions
Bad weather like strong headwinds or storms forces migrating birds to slow down or land. Rain or low visibility makes navigation more difficult too. Ideal conditions with tailwinds allow birds to make faster progress.
Flight Adaptations
Species that migrate long distances have evolved for efficient, aerodynamic flight. Long pointed wings provide lift and speed. Some birds even shrink organs before migration to become lighter.
Age and Experience
Older, more experienced birds tend to make faster migrations than young birds. They are more efficient at conserving energy and navigating the route.
Do Birds Ever Rest During Migration?
Yes, periods of fasting flight are interspersed with important stopovers to rest and feed. Even strong flyers like shorebirds and waterfowl must stop to replenish energy. The distances birds can cover without stopping depend on fat reserves and weather conditions. Small passerines may only fly short hops of a few hundred miles before stopping to refuel in optimal habitat.
However, some of the most extreme migrant birds have been recorded making nonstop flights of:
- Red knot – 5,000 miles from Canada to South America
- Great snipe – 4,000 miles nonstop over the Indian Ocean
- Bar-tailed godwits – 7,000 miles over 9 days without stopping
- Ruby-throated hummingbird – 500 miles across Gulf of Mexico
These continuous journeys require large fat stores and strategic planning. But eventually, all migrating birds must pause to feed and regain strength for upcoming flights. Birds often wait for favorable tailwinds before attempting an extreme endurance flight over oceans or deserts.
Why Do Some Birds Migrate Slowly?
As mentioned before, smaller birds like songbirds and hummingbirds cannot fly for extreme distances nonstop. They lack the fat reserves and muscle strength of larger birds. Thus, most smaller migratory species make frequent short stopovers, only flying 100-200 miles at a time.
There are some advantages to slower, short-hop migration for small birds:
- Allows them to replenish energy frequently
- Avoids exhaustion and starvation over long flights
- Provides more options to find good stopover habitats
- Allows them to track changing food resources
Additionally, young juvenile birds on their first migration fly more slowly than experienced adults. They may only migrate short segments interspersed with long stopovers to develop navigational skills.
Slower migration can be a disadvantage if it exposes birds to more predators or bad weather. But for many species, it’s a strategy that works well and provides energy conservation benefits.
How Do Birds Navigate During Migration?
Birds rely on a suite of phenomenal inborn abilities to navigate on migrations that can span entire continents. Their main navigational tools include:
Celestial Cues
Birds can detect the sun’s position during the day. At night, they use the stars to orient themselves. Studies showed that caged birds keep trying to fly in the normal migratory direction at night, guided by the star patterns.
Earth’s Magnetic Field
Birds have an internal magnetic compass they use to judge latitude and direction. They detect the angle of magnetic field lines relative to the Earth’s surface.
Mental Map
After their first migration, birds form a mental map of the landscape and landmarks along their route. Older birds recognize major geographical points and follow familiar flight paths.
Sense of Smell
There is evidence that birds may also use their sense of smell and winds carrying scent molecules to navigate on migration flights.
In addition to their innate navigation system, birds also use learned cultural knowledge of migration routes, habitats, and weather patterns passed between generations.
How Has Technology Advanced Research on Bird Migration?
Scientists use an array of technological tools to study the mysteries of bird migration today. Some important techniques include:
Tracking Devices
Miniaturized GPS tags and satellite transmitters attached to birds allow researchers to remotely track individual migration routes and speeds. Geolocators also record light levels to estimate locations.
Radar
Weather radar networks detect flocks of migrating birds over a broad area. This reveals peak migration times, flight altitudes, impact of weather, and changes in behavior over the seasons.
Stable Isotope Analysis
By analyzing ratios of different isotopes in feather samples, scientists can determine the origin and dietary habits of migratory birds on the wintering grounds.
Motive Orientation Cages
Special cages allow researchers to record the direction a bird wants to fly based on their innate compass reaction to celestial cues. This reveals if they are ready for migration.
Genetic Analysis
Examining bird genetics provides information on the relatedness and distribution of different populations across the migratory range.
Advanced technology will continue to produce new discoveries about the speed, endurance, navigation, and physiology of migrating birds into the future.
Conclusion
In summary, bird migration still holds many mysteries but researchers have revealed some general patterns of migration speed:
- The fastest flying birds clocked in powered flight are falcons at over 200 mph
- But when looking at sustained speeds, the fastest migratory birds fly around 60 mph, like the great snipe
- Larger birds fly faster overall than smaller birds due to energy reserves
- Most smaller songbirds average 20-40 mph by making frequent short flights
- Tailwinds help birds fly faster by boosting their groundspeed
- Even the fastest flyers must stop periodically to rest and feed
- Young birds tend to migrate slower on their first journeys
- Migratory birds navigate using a variety of innate abilities like a magnetic compass
Tracking technology continues to reveal new insights on bird movements every year. But one thing remains clear – the endurance flights made by migrating birds are truly spectacular feats of athletic performance and navigation.