Home time

A bird that breeds in Canada and the United States during our summer and spends our winter in Mexico, Central America, South America or the Caribbean Islands. There are about 200 species of Neotropical migratory birds that are broken up into 4 categories:

IN MINUTES

News and events visually Neotropical birds one-way migration

Northern Parula

As the warm weather returns to Canada, so do thousands of birds that have spent their winter in warmer climates. Neotropical migratory birds:
North American migration yways

A sure sign of spring

Distance: 482-4,828 kms Summer: SE Canada, E U.S. Winter: Florida, West Indies, Mexico to Nicaragua

Distance: 965-6,035 kms Summer: SE Canada, E U.S. Winter: Mexico to Panama

Wood Thrush

Songbirds Raptors

Shorebirds Waterfowl

Robins begin their return to nesting grounds each spring in about February. The males arrive at their breeding grounds rst with the females followingabout a week behind.

Distance: 965-7,000 kms Summer: SE Canada, E U.S. Winter: NW South America

Scarlet Tanager

Distance: 3,500-7,242 kms Summer: SE Canada, E U.S. Winter: NW South America

Cerulean Warbler

Why do they y so far?

To take advantage of seasonally abundant food and to avoid times or places where food and other resources are scarce. In Canada, food that migratory birds need ying insects, caterpillars, fruits and nectar are not su ciently available throughout the winter. Central Flyway

Distance: 4,023-8,046 kms Summer: Alaska, Canada, New England Winter: N South America

Blackpoll Warbler

Distance: 965-9,656 kms Summer: S Canada, U.S., Mexico Winter: Brazil, Bolivia to N Argentina

Purple Martin

300-4,000

How do birds migrate?

Geographical mapping: Remembering
di erent landforms from past journeys Star orientation: For birds that travel at night Learned routes: Some birds learn migration from their parents Magnetic sensing: Many birds can sense the Earths magnetic eld helps birds orient themselves for long journeys

Pacic Flyway
Distance: 4,023-10,943 kms Distance: 2,414-16,093 kms Summer: Canada, U.S. Summer: N Canada Winter: C U.S. to South America Winter: Colombia to C Argentina

Typical ight altitude, metres

140-960 150-2,000

Red Knot

Common Nighthawk

Atlantic Flyway

Typical daily migration, km

30-160 100-480 200 160 150 170

60-1,200

200-1,200

50-80

Typical ight speed, km/h

15-50 30-65

Mississippi Flyway

Distance: 8,046-10,943 kms Summer: S Canada, N U.S. Winter: S Brazil to N Argentina

Bobolink

Distance: 6,035-12,070 kms Summer: SW Canada, W U.S. Winter: S Brazil to C Argentina

Swainsons Hawk

30-70

Swainsons Hawk Broadwinged Hawk

Bluewinged Teal

Swainsons Thrush

Songbirds Shorebirds Waterfowl

Raptors

Songbirds Shorebirds Waterfowl

Raptors

Distance: 2,414-14,500 kms Summer: Alaska, N Canada, Winter: S U.S., West Indies, South America

Lesser Yellowlegs

Distance: 2,011-10,943 kms Summer: Alaska, Canada, U.S., N Mexico Winter: Brazil, Bolivia/Argentina

Cli Swallow

American Redstart

Barn Swallow

Sources: nationalzoo.si.edu; borealforests.org

Red Knot

SUSAN BATSFORD, GRAPHICS EDITOR, TWITTER @SBATS1; INFOGRAPHIC BY TARA CORRAN/QMI AGENCY