Yes, many species of birds migrate from the UK each year to spend the winter in warmer climates before returning in the spring to breed. Some of the key migratory bird species that leave the UK each winter include:
Swallows
Swallows are small, agile birds that are commonly seen in summer months flying low over fields and waterways catching insects on the wing. In the UK there are three main species – the barn swallow, house martin and sand martin. All three species migrate south in winter, travelling across Europe to Africa. It’s estimated around 9 million swallows and martins leave the UK each autumn.
Swifts
Swifts are superficially similar to swallows but are in fact not closely related. They are incredible fliers, spending virtually their entire lives on the wing. Swifts seen in summer in the UK migrate to Africa, with a 5000 mile round trip. They nest in buildings, arriving back and departing on very consistent dates.
Cuckoos
The cuckoo is famous for its recognisable call and sneaky parenting strategy – laying eggs in other birds’ nests. Cuckoos seen in spring and summer in the UK migrate south to tropical Africa. Satellite tagging has shown UK cuckoos fly across France, Spain, cross the Sahara desert to countries such as Nigeria and the Congo.
Nightingales
Nightingales are medium sized brown birds that are masters of song, with an impressive repertoire and range of vocalisations. They breed in scrub and woodlands in southern England and migrate to Africa for the winter. Some nightingales make a 6000 mile round trip between the UK and central Africa.
Spotted Flycatchers
Spotted flycatchers are declining summer visitors that catch flying insects from perches before migrating to Africa. Their population in the UK has crashed by 93% since the 1960s. The causes are believed to include habitat loss in Africa where they spend the winter.
Ospreys
Ospreys are large fish-eating birds of prey. They migrate from breeding sites in Scotland such as Loch Garten to wintering grounds in Africa near the equator. Young ospreys make this 3000 mile trip alone for the first time when just a few months old.
Other Migrants
Many other birds migrate from the UK for the winter including fieldfares, redwings, some geese and ducks, wheatears, warblers, chiffchaffs, sand martins and puffins. Some such as swans and geese migrate within the UK, while others like garden warblers fly across the Sahara to central Africa.
Why Do Birds Migrate?
Birds migrate to take advantage of seasons – to be in the best places for breeding when food supplies are greatest. Leaving the UK avoids cold winters when fewer insects are available and lets birds find warmer areas more suitable for nesting and raising chicks.
How Do Birds Navigate on Migration?
Birds use a combination of skills to navigate successfully on migration including:
- Sensing the earth’s magnetic field to determine direction
- Using the sun as a compass
- Navigating using stars
- Detecting low-frequency sound waves bouncing off hillsides
- Following landscape features
- Using an internal clock and circadian rhythms
- Remembering sites along their migration route
Threats to Migrating Birds
Migrating birds face many threats on their journeys including:
- Habitat loss in breeding areas and stopover sites
- Lack of food resources along migration routes
- Extreme weather events
- Collision with buildings and structures
- Increased predation
- Hunting along migration flyways
Tracking Bird Migration
Scientists are unlocking the secrets of bird migration by tracking their movements using methods such as:
- Ringing – metal rings allowing re-trapped birds to be identified
- Geolocators – tiny tags recording time and light levels to estimate location
- GPS tags – pinpointing precise locations
- Satellite tags – transmitting position data
- Stable isotope analysis – determining sites visited from feather samples
Tracking has revealed the outstanding feats of migration achieved by birds like Arctic terns which migrate from the Arctic to Antarctic each year.
Famous Migration Sites
Some key hotspots for observing the passage of migrating birds in the UK include:
- Isle of May, Scotland – seabirds, waders, passerines
- migration through Kent, England – diverse mix of species
- Skomer Island, Wales – important landfall for trans-Saharan migrants
- Flamborough Head, Yorkshire – seabirds, waders, passerines
- Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland – brent geese, waders
- Cromarty Bay, Scotland – knots, bar-tailed godwits
Conclusion
Many bird species including swallows, cuckoos, swifts, ospreys, warblers and waders migrate from the UK each year. They migrate to avoid winter cold and food shortages and take advantage of longer daylight hours and plentiful supplies at breeding grounds. Birds navigate using the sun, stars, magnetic fields and landscape features. Satellite tracking technology is further revealing the mysteries of bird migration and highlighting the amazing endurance of species like the Arctic tern.