Global Bird Travel: Which Species Circumnavigate The Globe?

Birds are known to migrate across vast distances, and some species stand out for their remarkable journeys. The Arctic tern holds the record for the longest bird migration, travelling between the Arctic and Antarctic regions each year. This tiny bird, weighing only about 4 ounces, covers approximately 44,000 miles (71,000 kilometres) annually and, over its lifetime, can migrate about 1.5 million miles—equivalent to flying to the moon and back three times! Other long-distance migrators include the Sooty Shearwater, which travels a circular route spanning 40,000 miles from the Falkland Islands to the Arctic waters, and the Bar-tailed Godwit, which undertakes an impressive non-stop flight of 7,145 miles from Alaska to New Zealand.

The Arctic Tern is the world's champion long-distance migrant

The Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) is a bird species renowned for its incredible migrations between the Northern and Southern polar regions, covering the most distance in migration among all bird species. These birds undertake a round trip of about 70,900 km (44,100 mi) on average in a year, with a maximum of 81,600 km (50,700 mi). This distance is more than twice the circumference of the Earth!

Arctic Terns have a circumpolar breeding distribution, covering the Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of Europe, Asia, and North America. They breed during the summer in these regions and migrate to the Antarctic coast for the southern summer. This journey ensures that the Arctic Tern experiences two summers per year and more daylight than any other creature on the planet.

The Arctic Tern's migration journey is not a straightforward one. Instead of following a straight path, they meander and take advantage of prevailing winds, travelling at altitudes of up to 10,000 feet. They also make stops at staging areas to feed, sometimes staying for up to a month. On their southward migration, they travel at a more relaxed pace, taking advantage of good feeding grounds and weather conditions. The northward return trip is taken with more urgency, and the birds take an S-shaped route over the Atlantic Ocean.

The southward migration typically begins in September and takes about three months to reach their Antarctic wintering grounds. They spend the Southern Hemisphere summer there, from December to March, before starting their return journey in April. By May, they have reached equatorial latitudes, and by June, they are back in their northern breeding grounds, ready for the busy nesting and chick-rearing season.

The Arctic Tern's long-distance migration capabilities are all the more remarkable given their relatively small size. They weigh only about 4 ounces, yet their streamlined body shape enables them to achieve powerful direct flight and effortless long-distance gliding. Their endurance is exceptional, with some individuals living over three decades, during which they can fly the distance to the moon and back three times!

Bar-tailed Godwit holds the record for the longest non-stop flight

The bar-tailed godwit, or Limosa lapponica, holds the record for the longest non-stop flight of any bird. This large and strongly migratory wader in the Scolopacidae family is known for its impressive endurance and ability to cover long distances without rest.

The bar-tailed godwit typically spends its summers in the Arctic, where it breeds and builds up energy reserves by feeding on mollusks, crustaceans, and worms. By the time they are ready for their southward migration, these birds have doubled in size, with half of their weight consisting of fat. To compensate for the extra weight, their bodies shrink some of their organs, such as the stomach and liver, which won't be of much use during the long journey.

In 2020, a male bar-tailed godwit, known as 4BBRW, set an impressive record by flying non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand. This journey covered a distance of 7,987 miles (12,854 km) and took approximately 11 days. The previous record was held by a female bar-tailed godwit, who flew 7,250 miles (11,680 km) in 2007.

However, the bar-tailed godwit's remarkable achievements didn't end there. In 2021, the same male bird, 4BBRW, broke his previous record by flying 8,100 miles (13,035 km) from Alaska to New South Wales, Australia, in a non-stop migratory flight. And in 2022, a young bar-tailed godwit numbered 234684 left Alaska and flew non-stop to Tasmania, Australia, covering a minimum distance of 8,425 miles (13,560 km) in 11 days and 1 hour. This marked the first recorded flight between Alaska and Tasmania and further solidified the bar-tailed godwit's place in avian record books.

The bar-tailed godwit's extraordinary migration capabilities are attributed to its efficient fuel-to-energy rate and aerodynamic design. With long, pointed wings and a sleek body, these birds are built for endurance and long-distance travel. Additionally, their ability to navigate across the globe year after year fascinates scientists, who speculate that they possess internal compasses that sense the Earth's magnetic field, providing them with an onboard map for their journeys.

Sooty Shearwater travels 40,000 miles a year

The Sooty Shearwater (Ardenna grisea) is a small, unassuming bird that resembles a drab seagull. But what it lacks in striking appearance, it makes up for in endurance. These seabirds undertake an annual journey of roughly 40,000 miles, making them some of the longest-distance migrants in the world.

Sooty Shearwaters breed in the Southern Hemisphere and migrate in vast numbers to the Northern Hemisphere. Their migratory path forms a giant figure 8, starting from their nesting areas near New Zealand, then heading eastward, sometimes as far as Chile, before cutting northwest towards Japan, Alaska, or California to forage, and finally looping back to the Southern Hemisphere. This journey covers both the Pacific and Atlantic basins as they traverse the globe.

In the Atlantic, Sooty Shearwaters travel more than 12,000 miles in a year, from their breeding colonies in the Antarctic to their Arctic feeding grounds. However, it is in the Pacific where they truly showcase their endurance, chasing the warmth of the sun in their figure-eight pattern. This journey covers more than 40,000 miles, making it the longest animal migration ever recorded electronically by scientists.

The Sooty Shearwater's remarkable migration is driven by the need to balance breeding and feeding grounds. Their breeding grounds are in one hemisphere, while their feeding grounds are in another. This separation ensures that they have access to nutrient-rich waters and an abundance of prey during their breeding season.

Sooty Shearwaters are not only long-distance migrants but also masterful and efficient flyers. They use wind power to glide long distances, taking advantage of ocean winds to travel great distances. Under optimal conditions, they may cover more than 1,000 miles in a single day. Their endurance and navigational skills make them true champions of avian migration.

Pied Wheatear travels from Europe to China, wintering in India and Africa

The bird that travels the farthest is the Arctic tern, which migrates from the Arctic to the Antarctic each year, covering around 44,100 miles annually. However, the pied wheatear (Oenanthe pleschanka) is a bird that travels from Europe to China and has been found wintering in India and northeastern Africa.

The pied wheatear is a small insectivorous passerine bird, formerly classed as a member of the thrush family but now considered an Old World flycatcher. This migratory bird is native to Southeast Europe and Western Asia, with a breeding range extending from Romania and Bulgaria to Siberia, Altai, and Mongolia. It occurs at altitudes of up to 2,000 meters (6,600 feet) in the Altai region and up to 3,000 meters (9,800 feet) in the Tien Shan region.

During the breeding season, the pied wheatear can be found in rough open country, steppes with scant vegetation, stony slopes, and hilly country. It nests in open, stony, sparsely vegetated regions, laying four to six eggs in a hole, under a stone, or in a rock crevice. The male is a boldly marked white-and-black bird, with a white crown tinged with brown, contrasting with a black face and throat, and a white rump. The female is browner, with a head washed with sandy buff, and is slightly smaller than the male.

In the winter, the pied wheatear migrates to Northeast Africa, passing through Southwest Asia. In its winter quarters, it inhabits similar locations with rocks, scree, and plains with thorny scrub. It sometimes visits grassy areas and gardens and has been recorded as a rare vagrant in Western Europe, with sightings in Italy, Heligoland, and Scotland.

The pied wheatear population is believed to be stable, with no significant threats, and is rated as a "Least Concern" species by Birdlife International.

Pectoral Sandpiper travels from Asia or Alaska to South America

The Pectoral Sandpiper is a small migratory wader that travels long distances from its breeding grounds in Asia or western Alaska to its winter grounds in South America. During their migration, these birds can be spotted in various parts of the world, including North America, Central America, Australia, and New Zealand.

The Pectoral Sandpiper, with annual flights of up to 19,000 miles, is one of the world's superstars of long-distance migration. It is a master of migratory movement, covering vast distances with determined flaps of its wings. Its breeding grounds are located in the arctic tundra, where it nests on the cold, harsh terrain of the Arctic Circle. The nest is typically found on relatively flat and marshy tundra with sedges and grasses, where the female incubates the eggs while the male does not participate.

During their spring migration, these sandpipers travel through the Great Plains, with smaller numbers venturing east towards the Atlantic coast. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including grassy marshes, wet fields, shorelines, mudflats, and even golf courses and airports. The Pectoral Sandpiper is sometimes referred to as a "grasspiper" due to its preference for grassy or vegetated sites rather than sandy or unvegetated mudflats.

In the fall, the species is found across the coast of North America, although it is less common in the western regions. The adults typically migrate south about a month before the juveniles, with adults peaking in late August and young birds following in late September. The winter range of the Pectoral Sandpiper is primarily in South America, where they spend their time in the grasslands and marshy areas.

The Pectoral Sandpiper is a small bird, measuring around 8-9 inches in length and weighing about 4.44 ounces. Its plumage is a mix of brown, gold, black, and white, with the juveniles having rusty-edged feathers. The name "Pectoral" comes from the inflatable air sac on the male's chest, which he puffs out during his unusual hooting flight display over the Arctic tundra.

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