Atlantic Flyway

Waterfowl flyways in the United States.
The Atlantic Flyway is in violet

The Atlantic Flyway is a major north-south flyway for migratory birds in North America. The route generally starts in Greenland, then follows the Atlantic coast of Canada, then south down the Atlantic Coast of the United States to the tropical areas of South America and the Caribbean.[1] Every year, migratory birds travel up and down this route following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or traveling to overwintering sites.[2]

This route is used by birds typically because no mountains block most of this path, though birds cross the Appalachian Mountains to join the flyway. Good sources of water, food, and cover exist over its entire length. The warm climates found in the southern portion of the region are home to many northern birds in winter, while in summer the region is home to many bird species from South America.[3]

Land located within the Atlantic Flyway is the most densely populated land out of the four major flyways crossing the United States.[4]

  1. ^ "North American Migration Flyways". www.birdnature.com. 2021-05-11. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  2. ^ Kathryn (2022-05-16). "Avian Superhighways: The Four Flyways of North America". American Bird Conservancy. Retrieved 2024-08-31.
  3. ^ Weidensaul, Scott (2021). A world on the wing: the global odyssey of migratory birds. New York: W.W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-0-393-60890-8.
  4. ^ "DU Projects: Atlantic Flyway". www.ducks.org. Retrieved 2022-11-23.