Where They Go

59 species travel from the Arctic to the Amazon — and Memphis is on the route.

59
Migratory species
0.3M
Combined round-trip miles
Barn Swallow
Longest traveler
12,000 mi
Longest round trip
Apr
Where are they now?
Memphis
Summer
Winter
Migrant
Click a path or bird photo

Tap a bird to see its route · use the timeline to see where they are each month

Travel Distance Ranking

Who flies the furthest? Annual round-trip distance, ranked.

🥇
Barn Swallow12,000 mi
Summer breederWinters: Central Argentina & southern South America
🥈
Mississippi Kite10,000 mi
Summer breederWinters: Paraguay, northern Argentina, southern Brazil
🥉
Purple Martin10,000 mi
Summer breederWinters: Amazon basin, Brazil
#4
Solitary Sandpiper10,000 mi
MigrantWinters: South America (inland wetlands)
#5
Eastern Kingbird9,000 mi
Summer breederWinters: Amazon basin, South America
#6
Osprey8,500 mi
Summer breederWinters: Coasts of South America
#7
Broad-winged Hawk8,000 mi
MigrantWinters: Central & South America
#8
Chimney Swift8,000 mi
Summer breederWinters: Upper Amazon basin, Peru & Ecuador
#9
Red-eyed Vireo8,000 mi
Summer breederWinters: Amazon basin, South America
#10
Yellow-billed Cuckoo7,500 mi
Summer breederWinters: Central South America
#11
Scarlet Tanager7,200 mi
MigrantWinters: Amazon & Andean foothills
#12
Canada Warbler6,400 mi
MigrantWinters: Northern Andes (Colombia, Ecuador)
#13
Tennessee Warbler6,400 mi
MigrantWinters: Central America
#14
Greater Yellowlegs6,000 mi
MigrantWinters: Coasts & South America
#15
Cerulean Warbler5,600 mi
Summer breederWinters: Andes of Colombia, Venezuela & Peru
#16
Yellow Warbler5,600 mi
MigrantWinters: Central & South America
#17
Magnolia Warbler5,000 mi
MigrantWinters: Central America & Caribbean
#18
Snow Goose5,000 mi
Winter visitorWinters: Gulf Coast & Mississippi River Valley
#19
Chestnut-sided Warbler4,800 mi
MigrantWinters: Central America
#20
Summer Tanager4,800 mi
Summer breederWinters: Northern South America
#21
Golden-winged Warbler4,600 mi
MigrantWinters: Central America (highlands)
#22
Prothonotary Warbler4,500 mi
Summer breederWinters: Mangroves of northern South America
#23
Black-throated Green Warbler4,400 mi
MigrantWinters: Central America & southern Mexico
#24
Acadian Flycatcher4,000 mi
Summer breederWinters: Central America & northwestern Colombia
#25
American Redstart4,000 mi
MigrantWinters: Caribbean & Central America
#26
Black-and-white Warbler4,000 mi
MigrantWinters: Caribbean & Central America
#27
Great Crested Flycatcher4,000 mi
Summer breederWinters: Southern Mexico to Colombia
#28
Ovenbird4,000 mi
MigrantWinters: Caribbean & Central America
#29
Warbling Vireo4,000 mi
Summer breederWinters: Mexico & Central America
#30
Wood Thrush4,000 mi
MigrantWinters: Central America
#31
Yellow-throated Vireo3,800 mi
Summer breederWinters: Central America & northern South America
#32
Common Yellowthroat3,500 mi
Summer breederWinters: Southern U.S., Mexico & Central America
#33
Dark-eyed Junco3,500 mi
Winter visitorWinters: U.S. (South of breeding range)
#34
Ruby-throated Hummingbird3,500 mi
Summer breederWinters: Southern Mexico & Central America
#35
Black-throated Blue Warbler3,400 mi
MigrantWinters: Caribbean islands
#36
Louisiana Waterthrush3,400 mi
Summer breederWinters: Caribbean & Central America
#37
Indigo Bunting3,200 mi
Summer breederWinters: Southern Mexico, Central America, Caribbean
#38
Kentucky Warbler3,200 mi
Summer breederWinters: Central America & Yucatan Peninsula
#39
Northern Parula3,200 mi
Summer breederWinters: Caribbean & Central America
#40
Ruby-crowned Kinglet3,200 mi
Winter visitorWinters: Southeastern U.S.
#41
Worm-eating Warbler3,200 mi
Summer breederWinters: Caribbean & Central America
#42
Yellow-rumped Warbler3,200 mi
Winter visitorWinters: Southeastern U.S. & Gulf Coast
#43
American White Pelican3,000 mi
Winter visitorWinters: Gulf Coast & lower Mississippi
#44
Gray Catbird3,000 mi
Summer breederWinters: Gulf Coast, Caribbean & Central America
#45
Hooded Warbler3,000 mi
Summer breederWinters: Central America & Yucatan Peninsula
#46
White-throated Sparrow3,000 mi
Winter visitorWinters: Southeastern U.S.
#47
Yellow-breasted Chat3,000 mi
Summer breederWinters: Mexico & Central America
#48
Chuck-will's-widow2,800 mi
Summer breederWinters: Caribbean, Central America & the Bahamas
#49
Common Loon2,800 mi
Winter visitorWinters: Gulf Coast & large inland reservoirs
#50
Hermit Thrush2,800 mi
Winter visitorWinters: Southeastern U.S.
#51
Least Bittern2,800 mi
Summer breederWinters: Southern Florida & Central America
#52
White-eyed Vireo2,800 mi
Summer breederWinters: Mexico & Central America
#53
Sandhill Crane2,600 mi
MigrantWinters: Gulf Coast & southern U.S.
#54
Yellow-throated Warbler2,600 mi
Summer breederWinters: Caribbean & Central America
#55
Prairie Warbler2,400 mi
Summer breederWinters: Caribbean & southern Florida
#56
Swainson's Warbler2,400 mi
Summer breederWinters: Caribbean & Central America
#57
Cedar Waxwing2,200 mi
Winter visitorWinters: Southern U.S. & Central America
#58
Anhinga1,200 mi
Summer breederWinters: Southern Florida & Central America
#59
Pine Warbler800 mi
Summer breederWinters: Southeastern U.S. pine belt

Migration by the numbers

Longest single flight: Ruby-throated Hummingbird crosses the Gulf of Mexico — 500+ miles of open water, no stopping.
Highest flyer: Sandhill Cranes migrate at 6,000–12,000 feet altitude, sometimes visible only as distant specks.
Fastest migrant: Broad-winged Hawks ride thermals in "kettles" of thousands, covering 300+ miles/day.
Night travelers: Most warblers migrate at night, navigating by stars. Memphis sits under one of the busiest nocturnal flyways.