Movement and Distribution

Follow the journeys of birds across continents and oceans. This section covers the science of migration, including navigation, stopovers, flyways, and the physiological demands of long-distance travel. From seasonal shifts to daily movements, we explore how and why birds move, what influences their routes, and how tracking technologies are unveiling their remarkable journeys in greater detail than ever before.


Tracked for the First Time: How Juvenile Egrets Disperse Across Australia – and Beyond
Tracking the journey from sky to sanctuary—this Plumed Egret in flight represents the movement patterns unveiled through satellite telemetry in the Macquarie Marshes. © Ged Tranter

Tracked for the First Time: How Juvenile Egrets Disperse Across Australia – and Beyond

A pioneering study uses GPS telemetry to map the early dispersal of great and plumed egrets from the Macquarie Marshes, revealing striking differences in their movement strategies and vital clues for wetland conservation.


The Ornithologist

The Ornithologist

Routing the Journey: Loop vs. Direct Migrations of East Asian Songbirds
Bright-plumed but elusive in movement – Narcissus Flycatchers help reveal how birds navigate East Asia with surprising route variation. © Natthaphat Chotjuckdikul

Routing the Journey: Loop vs. Direct Migrations of East Asian Songbirds

Tracking ringed birds with miniature geolocators reveals distinctly different migration strategies: clockwise loop migrations in Narcissus Flycatchers and direct routes in Amur Stonechats – highlighting evolutionary, ecological, and conservation implications in the East Asian–Australasian Flyway.


The Ornithologist

The Ornithologist