Migratory bird stories

Here are 10 of the best-known stories of migratory bird stories.

In this section

Arctic tern migration

Arctic terns have the longest migration of all - a round trip of up to 35,000 km (22,000 miles) each year!

Arctic tern sitting in long grass

Brent geese migration

Brent geese breed in the far north.

Brent goose flock flying low over wetland, Wallasea Island RSPB reserve, Essex

Cuckoo migration

Young cuckoos must find their own way to Africa.

Common cuckoo Cuculus canorus, adult male perched on a post, Stow Maries, Essex

Dunlin migration

Dunlins arrive in the UK from Greenland, Iceland, Norway and Russia.

Dunlin Calidris alpina on the artificial lagoon; high tide wader roost at Freiston Shore RSPB reserve, The Wash, Lincolnshire, England.

Osprey migration

Satellite tags have told us a lot about osprey migration.

Osprey Pandion haliaetus, fishing at dawn at Cairngorms National Park, Scotland

Redwing migration

The first redwings reach the UK in October.

Redwing on parched grass

Starling migration

Many starlings come to the UK for the winter.

Flock of starlings over reedbed

Swallow migration

By early May, most swallows have started breeding.

Swallow perched on overhead cable with blue sky in the background

Swift migration

Swifts need warm weather to provide a constant supply of flying insects, so they spend only about three months in the UK

Swifts flying over rooftops

Wheatear migration

All wheatears spend winter in tropical Africa, then head north in spring. Our race arrives in the UK during March.

Juvenile Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe, on lichen covered rock, Ramsey Island RSPB reserve, Wales