Pacific Flyway

Waterfowl flyways in the United States.
The Pacific Flyway is in green.

The Pacific Flyway is a major north-south flyway for migratory birds in the Americas, extending from Alaska to Patagonia.[1] Every year, migratory birds travel some or all of this distance both in spring and in fall, following food sources, heading to breeding grounds, or travelling to overwintering sites.[2]

Any given bird species travels roughly the same route every year, at almost the same time. Ornithologists and birdwatchers can often predict to the day when a particular species will show up in their area.[3]

Waterfowl arriving in California's Central Valley in the fall
  1. ^ "North American Migration Flyways". www.birdnature.com. May 11, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  2. ^ Kathryn (May 16, 2022). "Avian Superhighways: The Four Flyways of North America". American Bird Conservancy. Retrieved August 31, 2024.
  3. ^ Olson, S. M. (2022). "Pacific Flyway Data Book" (PDF). U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.