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Which Bird Has the Longest Migration?

BiologyOrnithology

Quick Answer

The Arctic tern holds the record for the longest migration of any animal, flying roughly 71,000 km annually on a round trip from Arctic breeding grounds to Antarctic feeding grounds and back.

The Full Story

The Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea) breeds in the Arctic during the northern summer, then migrates to Antarctica for the southern summer — essentially chasing endless daylight. Tracking studies using miniature geolocators revealed that some individuals fly over 90,000 km in a single year following a zigzag route that takes advantage of prevailing wind patterns. Over a typical 30-year lifespan, an Arctic tern may fly a total distance equivalent to three round trips to the Moon. The migration route is not a straight line: birds from Greenland and Iceland fly south along the European and African coasts, cross to South America, and then head southeast to Antarctica. Bar-tailed godwits hold the record for the longest non-stop flight: one individual (designated E7) flew 11,690 km from Alaska to New Zealand without stopping to eat, drink, or rest for about 9 days.

Key Facts

1.Arctic terns fly approximately 71,000-90,000 km annually — the longest migration of any animal on Earth.
2.Over a 30-year lifespan, an Arctic tern may fly a total distance equivalent to about 3 round trips to the Moon (roughly 2.4 million km).
3.A bar-tailed godwit tracked in 2007 flew 11,690 km non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand in about 9 days — the longest known non-stop flight without feeding.

YouTube Angle

Suggested video title for this topic:

"The Arctic Tern — The Bird That Sees Two Summers Every Year"