Do Chickadees Migrate? Resident and Irruptive Movements
Most North American chickadees are residents, but young Black-capped Chickadees may irrupt, Mountain Chickadees may move downslope and Boreal Chickadees sometimes move south.
5 min read
Field guide · Topic
Seasons & Migration
Backyard birding changes with the calendar. In fall, migrants move through and winter visitors arrive. Winter brings cold nights, snow and frozen water. Spring means migration again and the start of nesting, and summer brings heat and busy fledglings. These guides explain what is happening in each season and what you can do to help, from keeping water open in winter to tracking migration with radar forecasts and turning off lights on peak nights. They also cover which birds stay all year and which ones leave.
Seasons & Migration guides
Do Blue Jays Migrate? The Fall Flocks Explained
Some blue jays fly south in fall and many stay all winter, and even scientists can't predict which will go. Here is what is known, and what it means at your feeder.
5 min read
Do Bluebirds Migrate? Winter Flocks and Regional Movement
Bluebird migration depends on species, latitude and elevation. Northern Eastern Bluebirds migrate, some Western Bluebirds move or descend, and Mountain Bluebirds migrate.
5 min read
How Do Birds Survive Winter? Feathers, Fat and Shelter
A chickadee weighs less than half an ounce, yet it gets through nights far below freezing. Here is how small birds pull it off, and what helps them most.
6 min read
Do Cardinals Migrate? Range and Winter Movements
Northern Cardinals are year-round residents, not seasonal long-distance migrants. Winter flocks, local foraging and juvenile dispersal explain most movement.
5 min read
Bird Migration and Light Pollution: Lights Out at Home
Most songbirds migrate at night, and bright lights pull them into buildings and windows. Here is when the risk peaks and a simple lights-out checklist for your own home.
6 min read
How to Track Bird Migration With Radar Forecasts
Weather radar shows migrating birds every night. Learn to read it, what migration forecasts and live maps mean, and how to use them to catch new birds in your yard.
6 min read
When Do Birds Migrate in the Fall? A Month-by-Month Guide
Fall migration runs from late summer into December. Here is which backyard birds move in August, September, October and November, and what you will notice at home.
5 min read