Let’s Fly Away for Winter

Birds that migrate south during the cold winter months know where they are headed. Some fly off in small flocks, and others form large formations of thousands or more. Their journeys take them on a flight for thousands of miles, and some birds cross whole continents.

American white pelicans are a species of large water birds. They are native to North America and also inhabit remote brackish and freshwater lakes on islands. These are migratory birds flying south to winter on the Gulf Coast, California, and in Mexico. They prefer to stay near coastal waters, bays, and estuaries.

Barn swallows are neotropical migrants, migrating twice a year. In the early spring these birds fly to breed and nest in North America, arriving there in April or May. Then when autumn comes or the weather gets cooler, barn swallows migrate to the south to spend the winter in Central and South America. The birds fly pretty low just over the treetops, and they travel in flocks of hundreds or thousands and can cover up to 200 miles per day.

Canada geese are mainly in Canada and the northern US but journey farther south in the US or to northeastern Mexico. If there is food to be found and open water, some geese might overwinter in southern Canada. Canadian geese prepare for their journey in midsummer while still nesting. When ready, the form large iconic V-formations, and if weather is permitting, they can cover 1,000 miles per day. Despite being waterfowl Canadian geese also eat leaves, berries, stems, roots, oats, soybeans, seeds, and other crops.

Chimney swifts are long-distance migrants. Their original breeding sites are in the eastern parts of the US and southwestern Canada. During the cold of winter these birds prefer to migrate to South America. Chimney swifts start migrating in August through October and will return in April. The birds fly over the Gulf of Mexico or along the Texas coast. Many of these birds use the Atlantic coast, the east side of the Appalachians, and the Mississippi River flyway.

Goldfinches have become the most beloved birds in North America. These are small songbirds that are seen at backyard bird feeders. In the wintertime, goldfinches migrate southward to warmer climates looking for food and shelter. They fly to the southern US and eastern Mexico.

Hummingbirds go through a process known as “fattening up” to support their migration. These birds store fat to sustain them during their flights to Mexico and Central America. Their main food sources are insects, larvae, spiders, mosquitoes, insect eggs, and nectar.

Mourning doves take their migrating journeys from September to early November, seeking their sources of food like grains, seeds, and fruit. They fly to the southern US and Mexico in flocks, flying low for thousands of miles until they find a suitable place to winter, and then migrate back to their breeding grounds.

Sandhill cranes are large birds found in North America and parts of Alaska, Canada, and Siberia. These birds are recognizable by their long necks, reddish foreheads, gray bodies, and white wings with black tips. These birds migrate twice a year, in autumn and in spring. They look for food sources, feeding on grains, seeds, and insects.

Scarlet tanagers are medium-sized songbirds in North America. (pictured above) They have bright red feathers and black wings. These birds inhabit deciduous and mixed forests in eastern North America. They feed on large insects like grasshoppers, beetles, and caterpillars. Scarlet tanagers migrate south during the winter and can be see flying from tree to tree looking for fruit.

Wood ducks are a species of waterfowl. They breed and live in North America, inhabiting wooded swamps, shallow lakes, marshes, ponds, and rivers with dense vegetation. In the autumn, they migrate south and can be seen on the Atlantic coast. Wood ducks also fly to eastern Texas and the West Indies.