---
title: "How Do Migrating Birds Know Where to Go?"
url: https://www.kickassfacts.com/how-do-migrating-birds-know-where-to-go/
date: 2024-08-30
modified: 2024-08-30
lang: en
author: "Editor"
description: "Every year, birds migrate from north to south and vice versa, making the trips one of the most fascinating concepts. Interestingly, some species, including the young birds that have never..."
categories:
  - "Birds"
image: https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/flying-birds-feature-scaled.jpg
word_count: 764
---

# How Do Migrating Birds Know Where to Go?

Every year, [birds migrate](https://www.bioexpedition.com/animals-that-migrate/) from north to south and vice versa, making the trips one of the most fascinating concepts. Interestingly, some species, including the [young birds](https://www.kickassfacts.com/bird-facts/) that have never been to specific destinations, fly for thousands of miles. This begs the question – how do migrating birds know where to go? Is it knowledge they are born with? Let's find out.

## How Migrating Birds Know It's Time to Move

![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/birds-flying-768x432.jpg)

Unfortunately, scientists have not figured out how birds know where to migrate. However, they have come up with several theories. For instance, they believe [migrating birds rely on the sun and stars](https://teara.govt.nz/en/bird-migration/page-7) to move. They use these celestial bodies as a compass.

During the day, birds use the sun's position to dictate which side they should fly to. With the help of sunlight, birds also use landmarks for direction. At night, they rely on the stars.

Birds are also equipped with a mineral called [magnetite](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3552369/), which is located on their beaks. Magnetite senses the Earth's magnetic field which comes in handy during navigation. Scientists claim that birds have cells in their eyes that allow them to see the Earth's magnetic field.

For birds that are older than a year, they familiarize themselves with a particular migration path. Some birds make the same stopover point every year. Like human beings, the more a bird migrates, the more they become familiar with a particular path. So, it becomes customary for them to fly to a specific destination every season. This doesn't apply to all birds, however; some use different paths in search of better food.

Some bird species, such as [the homing pigeons, rely on smell for navigation](https://www.mpg.de/1074097/bird-navigation#:~:text=The%20amazing%20ability%20of%20pigeons,scent%20map%E2%80%9D%20of%20their%20surroundings.). Using their sense of smell, these birds can sense the direction of their nesting burrows and breeding sites. Other birds that use smell to relocate include songbirds and gulls.

## Factors That Affect Bird Migration

Food is a critical factor that facilitates migration. Birds know when food resources start becoming scarce, prompting them to migrate. For instance, birds in the Northern Hemisphere will migrate north during spring to gain access to the increasing budding plants and insect populations. When these two start to decrease in winter, they move south.

Apart from food, weather is another motivating factor for migration. Even birds who can withstand cold temperatures are afraid of the cold.

## Do All Birds Migrate?

![](https://www.kickassfacts.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/caged-bird-768x1151.jpg)

 

No, not all birds migrate. There are some birds, such as woodpeckers, sparrows, and doves, that are permanent residents. They can find food in the same location all year round, hence don't get the urge to move from one place to another.

However, they, too, possess the needed features for migrating, such as having magnetite and sensing the Earth's magnetic field. We also have short-distance migrants who make minimal movements.

The reason birds know where to go is based on their ancestral patterns. Even though birds evolve like all other animals, their "way of life" is still dictated by their ancestors. If a particular species has always migrated north during winter, even young birds born that year will fly north with its species. This is an indication that migration has been ingrained in their DNA.

In some cases, even [caged birds portray a sense of restlessness during migration season](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4013702/#:~:text=The%20occurrence%20and%20intensity%20of,conspecifics%20%5B2%2C3%5D.), especially during spring and fall. Caged birds will feel the urge to migrate despite being bred in near-perfect conditions, such as access to adequate food and controlled weather. If these were the only factors that trigger migration, these birds wouldn't feel the need to relocate.

## Challenges Migrating Birds Face During Their Travels

Even though birds know where to migrate, it's not always a smooth process. The further a particular bird species migrates, the more hazards they will likely encounter. Tall buildings and towers kill a lot of birds during migration as a result of collisions.

Also, this trip usually affects a bird's physical strength. As birds migrate, they may not get access to enough food, thus making them weaker. Birds also run into predators as they pass through foreign areas. Therefore, not all birds are lucky enough to make the trip from north to south and vice versa. Younger birds are at higher risk because they lack the experience and can sometimes fly off course.

## Conclusion

Even though the migration of birds is still a mystery, it is a known fact that they have an internal clock, similar to the circadian rhythms humans possess, that tells them when it's time to relocate. Through migration, birds don't just gain access to more food and resources. This process facilitates mating, breeding, and continuation of their species.