Migration: Long, Short, and In-Between

BirdNote^® 
Migration - Long, Short, and In-between 
Written by Bob Sundstrom

This is BirdNote.

In September, Arctic Terns fly south over the ocean, from Alaska all the way to Antarctica. 

         [Arctic Terns’ gruff calls]

Also in September, the last Rufous Hummingbirds depart their breeding range in the West, following “floral highways” of mountain wildflowers south to Mexico. 

         [Male Rufous Hummingbird wing-whistle]

Ruby-crowned Kinglets are leaving the northern evergreen forests where they nest, on their way to milder climates. 

         [Ruby-crowned Kinglet song]

Each of these birds is migrating, but on a very different course. All have the same adaptive goal — making the most of food and breeding opportunities that change with the seasons.

Arctic Terns follow one of the longest annual migrations, traveling as much as 44,000 miles each year. Arctic tundra provides their ideal nesting site in summer, the Antarctic, the ideal feeding grounds in our winter. 

         [Arctic Terns’ gruff calls]

Rufous Hummingbirds are medium-range migrants, traversing about 5,000 miles a year between temperate and tropical nectar sources. 

         [Male Rufous Hummingbird wing-whistle]

Some Ruby-crowned Kinglets are altitudinal migrants, especially in the West. They may remain close to the same latitude all year, but spend the cold months in the relative warmth of the lowlands dining on insects and their eggs. In summer, you’ll need to ascend thousands of feet into the western mountain ranges to hear the kinglet’s exuberant song. 

         [Ruby-crowned Kinglet song]

For BirdNote, I’m Mary McCann.

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Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Producer: Jazzi Johnson
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Bird audio provided by The Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Arctic Tern calls, Ruby-crowned Kinglet song and Rufous Hummingbird call recorded by G.A. Keller.
Ambient songbird track recorded by C Peterson.
BirdNote’s theme music was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2013 BirdNote  September 2013 / 2017 / 2020 / 2024 /2026   
Narrator: Mary McCann

ID# migration-07b-2020-9-12 migration-07b

References: 
 Berthold, Peter. Bird Migration: A General Survey. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993.