It occurs in the “northern hemisphere”, where birds follow specific routes by ‘natural barriers’ such as the “Mediterranean Sea” or the “Caribbean Sea” and birds also visit India from Siberia and many other countries. Example of migratory birds are hazel hen, black woodpecker.

India is a winter home for most of the Siberian birds such as the Siberian Cranes, Greater Flamingo, and Demoiselle Crane, also numerous species of birds from other regions of the world. These beautiful birds migrate to India every year during the winter and summer season for food, breeding, and nesting.

• Asiatic Sparrow-Hawk. Asiatic Sparrow-Hawk is a bird of prey but it’s smaller compared to the larger birds of prey such as the eagles.
• Harriers.
• Peregrine Falcon.
• Osprey.
• Pacific Golden Plover.
• Bluethroat.
• Wagtails.
• Eurasian Wigeon.

Indian subcontinent plays host to a number of migratory birds in summers as well as winters. It is estimated that over hundred species of migratory birds fly to India, either in search of feeding grounds or to escape the severe winter of their native habitat.

The dictionary definition of migratory bird is a bird that travels from one place to another at regular times often over long distances.

Some birds are passage migrants, like the spotted flycatcher, rufous-tailed scrub robin and European roller. They migrate through a large part of western India and over winter in Africa. Amur Falcons pass through India in December. Many birds arrive from temperate regions; the Siberian Cranes come to India in winter.

10 Animals That Migrate

• Monarch butterfly. Millions of monarch butterflies begin their 3,000-mile journey in the fall from northeastern United States and Canada to the overwintering grounds of southwestern Mexico.
• Blue whale.
• Sandhill crane.
• Humpback whale.
• Wildebeest.
• Gray Whale.
• Hummingbird.
• Canada goose.

Arctic tern

Avian migration is a natural process, whereby different birds fly over distances of hundreds and thousands of kilometres in order to find the best ecological conditions and habitats for feeding, breeding and raising their young.

Other factors, viz., scarcity of food, shortening of daylight and increase of cold are believed to stimulate migration. Migration in birds depends upon two important factors— stimulus and guidance. Scarcity of food and fall of daylight are believed to produce endocrinal changes which initiate bird migration.

A colossal assortment of bird make the adventure: the small Rufous Hummingbird migrates up and down the North American continent while the Arctic Tern moves from one pole to another. Indeed, it is found that one out of five bird species migrates.

But according to an increasingly popular theory, birds and other animals use a radical pair-based compass to “see” the Earth’s magnetic field, allowing them to undertake great migrations and daring rescues without getting lost.

Birds are social flock animals, and many pet bird species need near-constant companionship from their caretakers. But some species are slightly more independent or are happy with the company of other birds, allowing their caretaker to spend more time away.

They seem to have an internal global positioning system (GPS) that allows them to follow the same pattern every year. A young bird imprints on the sun and stars to help orient it. Some researchers think a bird may also recognize landmarks. The beak helps birds determine their exact position.

Along the way birds follow coastlines, mountains, and river valleys that funnel them northward. Once closer to home, memory and recognition of smaller features like trees or buildings help them find their exact nesting areas. The real miracle is the seamless fusion of these tools over vast distances.