migratory bird
Travels with seasons
A migratory bird is one that travels seasonally between breeding and wintering grounds, often covering thousands of miles.
Geese flying south for winter are the classic image.
The term appears frequently in conservation contexts: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act protects over a thousand species.
Some migrations span continents; others are merely altitudinal.
Established bird migration path
- passageSegment of text
- stopoverBrief halt mid-journey
- overwinteringEnduring the cold months
- southwardToward the equator's direction
northward · crossing · long-haul · departure · arrival · staging area · refueling · nonstop flight
Bird's lightweight covering
- wingspanTip-to-tip extent
- plumageBird's complete feather coat
- beakHorny avian mouthpart
- flockAnimals gathered together
V-formation · songbird · shorebird · waterfowl · raptor · warbler · swift · tern
Sites where species reproduce
- wintering groundsSeasonal refuge from cold
- spring arrivalStart of warmer season
- timingArt of choosing moments
- photoperiodDuration of daily light
nesting season · molting · breeding plumage · territory · courtship · fledging · dispersal · annual cycle
Elimination of living spaces
- wetlandsWater-saturated terrain
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
- wind turbinesMachines converting air movement to electricity
light pollution · climate change · population decline · banding · tracking · radar · citizen science · Ramsar Convention
Earth's magnetic field
- polarized lightWaves oscillating in one direction
- landmarksDistinctive, recognizable locations
- orientationPosition relative to surroundings
- instinctInnate behavioral tendency
biological clock · visual cues · air currents · topography · latitude · longitude
flyway
Established bird migration path
- passageSegment of text
- stopoverBrief halt mid-journey
- overwinteringEnduring the cold months
southward · northward · crossing · long-haul · departure · arrival · staging area · refueling · nonstop flight · altitude
feathers
Bird's lightweight covering
flock · V-formation · songbird · shorebird · waterfowl · raptor · warbler · swift · tern · crane
breeding grounds
Sites where species reproduce
- wintering groundsSeasonal refuge from cold
- spring arrivalStart of warmer season
- timingArt of choosing moments
photoperiod · nesting season · molting · breeding plumage · territory · courtship · fledging · dispersal · annual cycle · phenology
habitat loss
Elimination of living spaces
- wetlandsWater-saturated terrain
- sanctuaryProtected sacred space
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
wind turbines · light pollution · climate change · population decline · banding · tracking · radar · citizen science · Ramsar Convention · nature reserve
geomagnetism
Earth's magnetic field
- polarized lightWaves oscillating in one direction
- landmarksDistinctive, recognizable locations
- orientationPosition relative to surroundings
instinct · biological clock · visual cues · air currents · topography · latitude · longitude
- Danube DeltaDanube River, reed beds, floating islands, pelican, Black Sea
- Indian WildlifeBengal tiger, Indian elephant, peacock, elephants, cobra
- Eurasian wildlifeSiberian tiger, giant panda, red panda, snow leopard, Asian elephant
- Island Naturecoconut palm, hibiscus, sea turtle, coral reef, atoll
- wetlandsswamp, swamps, marsh, marshes, marshland
- AmazonAmazon, river, Amazon River, Amazon rainforest, rainforest