The migratory habits of wild birds living in the UK are fascinating with migrations happening throughout the year. Many birds use the UK as the perfect stopover before travelling onwards, to their actual destination.
Many birds migrate in November, but many of us think that by the word ‘migrate’ means to leave. However, the truth is that wild birds migrate both into and out of the UK throughout the year. Here is a list of wild birds that migrate out of the UK in November:
- Chiffchaff
- Yellow Wagtail
- Swift
- Swallow
- House Martin
- Willow Warbler
- Cuckoo
But its not just November when we see wild birds arrive and depart the UK. Right through the year, the UK is a very popular destination and for several great reasons!
Many wild birds that like to over Winter in the UK do so around Autumn. If severe cold weather hits parts of northern Europe, the cold temperatures can impact the food levels and, as a result, wild birds may risk the dangerous journey of heading over the north sea in Winter.
Deciding to migrate over the North Sea at this time of year is a somewhat perilous journey given the weather’s unpredictability. Still, many will make the crossing to survive. Of all the wild bird arrivals to our shores in Winter, Waxwings are one of the most anticipated. Birdwatchers from all over the UK will watch the skies in search of the Waxwings colourful plumage.
Although the exact reason is unknown, the weather in Europe is likely the primary reason for the variation in numbers observed each year. If countries further North of the equator than the UK such as Scandinavia or parts of northern Russia.
Food sources may be harder to obtain, effectively forcing the Waxwing to migrate further south. During some winters in the UK, vast numbers of Waxwings may be observed while relatively few will be reported in other years. The arrival of large numbers of birds on mass is referred to as ‘irruptions.’.
Chiffchaff
Chiffchaffs are common in the UK and are small and olive-brown in colour. They can be found year-round with many arriving late March as the UK weather starts to warm.
In recent years, the Chiffchaff has been found to over-winter in the UK, a sign of the UK’s relatively milder winters. Those Chiffchaffs who decide to depart the UK, typically do so in August and September while there is still a plentiful food supply, before starting their journey south onwards to the Mediterranean and African.
Yellow Wagtails
Unlike the Chiffchaff, the Yellow wagtail does not resident in the UK throughout the year. Instead, this small, yellow and green bird can typically be seen in spring through until October when the weather cools considerably in the UK. The Yellow Wagtail is not a fan of the UK cold weather, and like the Chiffchaff, it favours Africa as its preferred winter destination.
Swift
The swift is another warm-weather visitor to UK shores, arriving around April onwards. It is believed that a surge in the insect population throughout the UK during this time is the primary reason they appear with an estimated 60,000 pairs breeding annually.
Of those that choose to breed in the UK, many will continue their journey in September, heading south through France and Spain before going onwards to Africa where they once again, take advantage of a considerable increase in the insect population.
Fascinating Fact: Swifts typically spend most of their time in the air when not breeding. They also have the incredible ability to sleep while still in flight. This remarkable skill is achieved by flying up to a high altitude and gliding during which time, the swift can sleep for short periods.
Swallow
These small dark birds with red throats and pale underparts usually begin to reach UK shores around March. Typically they are found in quieter locations and where insects are abundant. In the UK this tends to be areas of open pasture with quiet farm buildings. In September, most swallows will be preparing to leave UK shores and begin their migration back towards Africa, with the journey taking around six weeks to complete.
Unlike other wild bird species, the Swallow does not need to fatten up for its onward migration journey but instead chooses to catch insects while on the route. Unfortunately, this approach is not assured, and many will die of starvation on their journey.
Fascinating Fact: Swallows from different parts of Europe choose various destinations. Swallows that depart the UK typically, head south through France and Spain, Morroco, the Sahara desert, the Congo rainforest before reaching their final goal of South Africa and Namibia.
House Martin
The House Martin is known to arrive in the UK from March onward. It is a small bird with glossy upper parts and nearly pure white underneath with a distinct forked tail. Similarly to the Swallow, the House Martin spends most of its time on the wing, snapping up insects while it goes. House Martins are another visitor that chooses to leave UK shores around October and head south to Africa.
Willow Warbler
Arriving in April, the Willow Warbler can be found widely across the UK in the summer months. They are small grey-green birds with pale underparts. The Willow Warbler is often mistaken with the Chiffchaff but can be distinguished by its song. In contrast to the Chiffchaff that can be found in the UK throughout the year. The Willow warbler looks to depart the UK around October and head to Africa.
Cuckoo
The Cuckoo visits the UK for a relatively short window each year, arriving in April and departing in September. It is a larger bird than the Willow Warbler and has blue-grey upperparts and barred white underneath. The Cuckoo has a reputation of being a brood parasite, a bird that will lay its egg in other birds nests.
The Cuckoo is not overly selective about the bird’s nest it will leave its egg with and is known to have replaced over a 100 different host species eggs with its own.
Fascinating Fact: When a cuckoo chick hatches, it appears to take on the parent Cuckoo traits and instinctively ejects other eggs or hatchlings from the brood hosts nest to obtain the space and food it requires from the new parent.
Passage Migrants
As the term suggests, passage migrating birds are those that choose to stop off in the UK. They usually use the UK as a breakpoints in their journey where they can refuel and rest before moving on.
Partial Migrants
These are birds that only migrate in some places. A great example of this is that of the UK starling. If the starling breeds in the UK it is likely to remain in the UK over Winter. In contrast, starlings that nest in eastern Europe which tends to be a much colder climate in Winter are known to migrate to the UK in Winter.
Which birds stay in the UK for Winter?
Many birds remain in the UK over Winter and usually tend to be those that breed here. Here is a list:
- Starlings
- Chaffinches
- Robins
- Blackbirds
- Lapwings
- Coots
Which birds migrate into the UK for Winter?
Here is a list of wild birds that migrate into the UK in November:
- Fieldfare
- Waxwing
- Redwing
- Brambling