Texas Just Broke a Bird Migration Record — And It’s Not Over

Texas has experienced a record-breaking night of bird migration this year. This won't be the last time a record is broken, and wren it happens again, it's best not to chicken out.

Texas' Record Bird Migration

On the night of October 8, the sheer number of birds migrating surpassed a whopping 1.25 billion feathered flappers. This massive migration topped the previous September record of 1.2 billion and the 2023 mark of 1.1 billion.

Check out this map of migratory patterns during this historic night from BirdCast:

When do Birds Usually Migrate Each Year?

Not all birds migrate every year. In fact, only two-thirds of all bird species in the U.S. actually migrate. Some prefer to spend the colder months in the southern states, but others require warmer climates beyond the Texas border in Mexico and beyond.

Did you also know that warmer climate is not the only reason for migrating birds? There are actually three other causes, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department:

• Where food is more abundant
• Less competition for nesting spaces
• Longer daylight hours

Common Migratory Paths through Texas

Birds in colder climates like Canada and portions of the U.S. travel south along the Gulf of Mexico during the winter months.

Fun Fact: Panama has the highest density of migratory birds during the winter months than any other country in the world.

Some birds fly nonstop, up to 600 miles, to reach their warmer destination while others, like the Clark's Nutcracker, simply relocate from the top to further down the Rocky Mountains in the wooded areas to wait out winter.