Migratory Birds in Idaho Who, Why and How? Terry Rich U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Partners in Flight

What is Migration? Migration is predictable movement of an animal from one location and climate to another. Linked to food or other resources. Migratory animals generally make one round trip each year. Birds–Breeding and nonbreeding ranges

Why would a bird migrate?

What Migrates?

Largest group of daytime migrants – hawks Depend on rising air currents called thermals Can see landmarks on the ground well Rivers Mountain chains Diurnal Migration

Thermal Formation

River of Raptors (Rio des Rapaces) 4-6 million raptors migrate through every year

Arctic Tern migrates from its Arctic breeding grounds to the Antarctic and back again each year – 19,000 km (12,000 mi) each way!

Most birds migrate only at night Less windy Cooler Few predators Use the stars, sounds, landmarks to find the way Nocturnal Migration

Breeding birds that leave in winter Birds that breed north of Idaho and migrate through to the south Birds that breed north of Idaho and winter here Altitudinal migrants Residents Species with variable behavior Migratory Birds in Idaho

Common Nighthawk Black-chinned Hummingbird Western Kingbird Barn Swallow Yellow Warbler Bullock’s Oriole Western Tanager Lazuli Bunting Breeding Birds that Leave in Winter

Pacific Golden-Plover American Golden-Plover Long-billed Dowitcher Solitary Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Birds that Breed North of Idaho and Migrate through to the South

Rough-legged Hawk Gyrfalcon Merlin Snow Bunting American Tree Sparrow Birds that Breed North of Idaho and Winter Here

Dark-eyed Junco Sharp-shinned Hawk Pine Siskin Pine Grosbeak Black Rosy Finch Altitudinal Migrants

Residents – Don’t Migrate

Partial Migrants

Who is on our feeders in winter? ? ? ?