Bird Migration Facts

Learn All About One Of Nature's Greatest Wonders

By Richard Worden

With the weather getting colder, you may have noticed more and more birds flying south as they do around this time every year. There are lots of great resources that offer information and bird migration facts. Still, this article will tackle some of the most relevant migration facts, like why migration happens, which birds participate in the move, and when migration starts and ends.

Bird migration is a survival behavior adopted by many birds to avoid harsh Winter conditions that bring about freezing temperatures, reduced resources, and snow-covered habitats. Most birds migrate in the fall and return in the spring, but some winged species—like owls—don’t migrate.

The astonishing journeys of these fragile feathered creatures have long fascinated humankind—and are a symbol of seasonal change. The facts on bird migration are extensive and fascinating because they offer insight into the behavior of a unique variety of winged animals. Keep reading to learn more about the fascinating world of bird migration.

Great Bird Migration Facts and Information

There are almost ten thousand different kinds of birds worldwide, including birds that don’t fly, called flightless birds. Nearly fifty percent of this number participates in migratory behavioral patterns. Let’s look at eleven amazing facts about migration and birds.

What Is Bird Migration?

Bird migration is when large populations of birds fly to warmer locations for more abundant resources during the Winter months. As the weather gets colder, food sources become less available, so many bird species fly elsewhere to source food.

According to the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds or RSPB, around four thousand different types of birds migrate, which is nearly half of the world’s bird population! 

There are numerous kinds of migration patterns:

• Irruptions: This migrational pattern refers to when large populations of birds migrate to somewhere unusual due to their growing numbers,
• Altitudinal migrants: This migration pattern occurs when birds migrate vertically versus horizontally over a distance. Birds move down, instead of across landscapes, from the top of a mountain to the bottom.
  
  

What Are the Causes of Bird Migration?

Bird migration can happen for any number of reasons. Birds commonly migrate to find food and breed, but they can also migrate to experience molt (the shedding and regrowth of feathers) or for nesting and sheltering purposes.

As mentioned above, birds must follow the weather when gathering resources and food for survival. When the weather becomes too frigid, and the trees and plants cease to grow, birds will first migrate to warmer weather to find food. This area is called their wintering grounds.

Breeding grounds, on the other hand, refer to the second migration a bird goes through as the cold weather turns to spring and summer. When birds migrate to breeding grounds, they look to mate and breed. 

So, birds may migrate because:

• They need to find food.
• They need to find an appropriate place to nest and lay eggs (after breeding)
• They need to live in a location with as little possible danger to undergo their molting phase, which renders them temporarily flightless.
• Their population has grown too large.

Migration is an instinct in many winged animals, meaning that birds don’t have a choice about whether or not they plan to move to warmer locations for the winter months.

Do Birds Really Fly South for the Winter?

The truth is birds migrate in various directions based on their breeding and wintering grounds and usually follow the exact flight path each time. Generally, when temperatures are too cold for birds to find food and nest, they’ll fly to the South for resources.

Birds can follow four different flight paths based on their geographic location. These flight paths all fly north to south across the continents. These are the following bird migration facts and routes:

• Pacific flyway. The Pacific Flyway, the farthest flyway to the west, extends from Patagonia (southern South America) to Alaska in the north. 
• Central flyway. Next to the Pacific Flyway is the Central Flyway, which extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian prairies. 
• Mississippi flyway. The Mississippi Flyway and the Central Flyway are almost identical, with the Mississippi Flyway covering Canada to the Gulf of Mexico. The most significant distinction is in how the birds navigate each flight path. Birds that fly the Central Flyway use the Canadian Rockies to navigate. 
• Atlantic flyway. Finally, the Atlantic Flyway is the eastern flyway, covering Greenland to South America (following the coasts). 

Following these flyways, birds can travel south in the fall when the colder temperatures are approaching and back north when spring arrives. 

Where Do Birds Go When They Fly South for the Winter?

When birds fly South, they follow one of the above flight paths from the northernmost point to the southern hemisphere, meaning they can stop anywhere from Mexico to Florida to Cuba. Birds often stop on their journey south or north to collect resources and rest. 

For example, a semipalmated sandpiper comes from northern Canada to the South coast of Mexico, where they find their wintering grounds. This bird travels an incredibly long distance in search of wintering and breeding grounds. Not all birds travel great distances during migration.

What Happens if Birds Don’t Fly South for the Winter?

Some birds don’t fly South as the temperature lowers. Some birds can withstand cold temperatures. Consider owls– with their thick feathers and heightened senses, they’re well equipped to survive the winter months and successfully hunt for food, thus not needing to migrate or hibernate.

For birds that are supposed to migrate South but fail to relocate for whatever reason (a sick, dying, injured, or baby bird may not be able to make the trip), if they can find food to make it through the winter, they still may be able to survive. However, without any food resources, birds that stay behind are likely to die in the cold. 

Birds that don’t migrate can find food resources by adapting to a limited diet of fruits and nuts after bulking up on insects, plants, and seeds before the migration period. bird migration facts

Here's an interesting YouTube video
that discusses bird migration in greater detail...

How Far Do Birds Fly South for the Winter?

How far south birds migrate depends on their wintering and breeding grounds—and what they’re adapted to withstand. However, when birds need to fly far, they’re usually hunkering down for the winter in South America—think of the spicy hot sun in Mexico. Birds begin migrating in the fall season.

Of course, this only applies to those birds that migrate long distances, called long-distance migrants. Long-distance migrants, such as the Blackpoll Warbler, will breed in Canada and winter in the Amazon forests of South America. Different birds find their wintering grounds in varying locations amidst the Southern hemisphere.

The Blue Heron, a large bird, typically seen breeding in Canada, flies to Cuba for the winter months. On the other hand, the Nighthawk will breed in Canada and winter in Brazil. As you can see, the location depends entirely on the bird species.

How Does a Bird Migrate?

Birds learn of upcoming migration periods through shortened days, lower temperatures, and reduced availability of food resources. When this happens, birds need to start bulking up on food to prepare for the long journey to wintering grounds.

Many birds migrate in large flocks over a few weeks to a few months. You’ve likely seen geese migrating in the classic V-shape, for example. Migratory birds fly for a specific time, resting in different locations throughout the journey. 

Other birds that aren’t migrating long distances will begin to fly in flocks when their biological senses are triggered. As mentioned, some only need to migrate to lower, warmer areas in the same general vicinity; others need to travel half the distance of a long-distance migratory bird. Migration patterns are incredibly species-specific.

How Far Do Birds Migrate in a Day?

Migratory birds fly up to six hundred miles (almost one thousand kilometers) daily! Some birds can fly even longer distances, but the journey depends on weather and wind conditions.

When birds are too exhausted to continue the migration journey, they may rest in a migration trap, a resource-abundant location near their final destination where many birds congregate to refuel. 

Migration is a strenuous journey for long-distance migrants, with many potential obstacles, such as bad weather and hungry predators. If you live in an area that receives many migratory birds amidst the changing seasons, keeping an outdoor bird feeder stocked can help migrants bulk up for their continuing journeys.

Do All Birds Migrate?

No, not all birds migrate. Only the birds not adapted to below-freezing temperatures engage in the migration periods. Some birds that do not migrate are owls, woodpeckers, bluejays, and ravens.

Let’s have a look at these birds in closer detail:

• Owls (Great Horned, Screech). Owls are well-equipped to survive cold temperatures and can hunt adequately in the winter months.
• Woodpeckers. Woodpeckers build their winter homes within the cavities of trees; you may be able to hear them in the process in the Fall season!
• Bluejays and Ravens. These birds are two Corvid bird species, and while they don’t travel long distances, they occasionally partially migrate to areas richer in resources. However, these birds are quite capable of foraging and finding shelter all year round.

Some birds take breaks between migration journeys, while others travel nonstop to their destination!

How Often Do Birds Migrate?

Birds migrate twice a year—once in the fall spring—when they move to their wintering and breeding grounds. In the fall, birds head to their wintering grounds (dubbed so because they hunker down for the winter in warmer locations) and, in the spring, back to the breeding grounds to mate.

Migration and migratory processes are instinctive in birds– it isn’t something they can necessarily choose to do or decide not to do. That said, it’s natural for long-distance migrants to migrate twice a year, and sometimes birds don’t travel long distances to relocate to a more resource-rich location. 

Either way, it’s most common for birds to travel in the Fall and Spring. 

When Do Birds Migrate?

Birds that live on land migrate most often at night or in the evening. It’s the most beneficial time for migration because darkness provides a cover from predators and the temperatures are generally cooler, so it’s easier for birds to maintain their body temperature throughout the journey.

There are, however, birds that migrate during the day. These birds consist primarily of predatory birds like eagles and hawks, who can benefit from daytime migration by being capable of seeing prey along their journeys. 

Migration involves flying overseas, forests, and open lands, sometimes without rest or food. Migration traps are always a potential threat to the exhausted, winged animal that needs to stop and rest along its journey.

Which Bird Makes the Longest Migration Journey?

The Arctic tern is the bird that makes the longest known migratory journey. From the North pole to the South pole in Antarctica, Arctic Terns travel 44,000 miles thousand miles (70811km).

These birds have a staggering tenacity to travel so far for their survival. The tern resembles seagulls but has black and white colors on its feathers. They also have red legs and a thin, slender beak; they can be either grey or brown when first hatched. As they mature, these colors fade into white and black feathers grown on the bird’s head.

The sooty shearwater is another fascinating long-distance traveler. Studies of the shearwater’s migratory marathon conducted using geolocation—measured an incredible 30,000 miles (48,280 km) in a figure of eight—closely rivaling their Arctic tern cousins. The most impressive fact is that they achieve these great distances in 2-3 weeks! 

Bird Migration Facts...Final Thoughts

Birds are fascinating animals; each species has unique behavioral patterns and migratory periods. Some birds travel far while others don’t, depending on the species. Additionally, different species travel at different times and speeds. Overall, while this list covers twelve great bird migration facts– there are too many to count!

I hope you understand why bird migration happens and the facts surrounding this instinctive animal pattern. Ultimately—one can’t fail to be awed by the spectacular journeys some birds make to ensure their survival.

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Hi! I'm Richard Worden, the author and founder of We Know Birds.

Over 20 years ago I developed a keen interest in birds and birdwatching, and it has been my passion ever since. I am committed to spreading useful knowledge about birds to others so we might all enjoy them to the fullest.

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