ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Environment → Animals

Awesome tiny birds cross the Atlantic in one go without stopping

More than half a century in question, scientists now confirm that the tiny blackpoll warbler flies nonstop over the North Atlantic Ocean each autumn from New England to South America. The trip takes three days, during which the bird foregoes any rest, sleep or meal. It also absorbs its own intestines.

Tibi PuiubyTibi Puiu
April 1, 2015 - Updated on April 2, 2015
in Animals, Biology, News
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

RelatedPosts

Tropical songbirds reproduce less during drought
These incredible butterflies migrate over the Atlantic
Isotopes inside salmon ear tell a fishy story
120 million crabs hit the streets

More than half a century in question, scientists now confirm that the tiny  blackpoll warbler flies nonstop over the North Atlantic Ocean each autumn from New England to South America. The trip takes three days, during which the bird foregoes any rest, sleep or meal. It also absorbs its own intestines.

The blackpoll warbler (Setophaga striata) in fall plumage. Image: Wikimedia Commons
The blackpoll warbler (Setophaga striata) in fall plumage. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Researchers have suspected for almost 50 years that the bird, which tips the scale at only half an ounce (three teaspoons of sugar), makes this epic journey without stopping, judging from radar data or sightings of the birds on ships in the Atlantic. But there’s always uncertainty when dealing with a 1,500 long-journey and such a small bird. The mystery was finally solved by a group of ecologists who placed geolocators on 40 birds to uncover their overwater route. The devices showed that the birds flying from their summer homes in Vermont and Nova Scotia flew between 1,410-1,721 miles until they reached Puerto Rico, Cuba and the Greater Antilles islands. This was their stop before continuing to their autumn lodging in northern Venezuela and Colombia, are ported in Biology Letters.

One of the birds with a geolocator. These were retrieved after the bird took arrived at its destination. CREDIT: VERMONT CENTER FOR ECOSTUDIES
One of the birds with a geolocator. These were retrieved after the bird took arrived at its destination. CREDIT: VERMONT CENTER FOR ECOSTUDIES

Now ultra-long flights aren’t unheard of. Albatrosses, sandpipers and gulls are famous in this respect, but what sets the blackpoll warbler apart is its size. Where does such a tiny thing gets all of its energy? For one, the birds excellently time their flights to correspond with wind patterns. To survive, however, the bird also undergoes physiologically changes. According to Bill Deluca, an ecologist at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, the birds fatten up before their trip, growing to roughly 0.6 ounces, from 0.4. Some birds grow to 0.8. “Basically, they’re these little meatballs with wings,” he says. Then, the birds absorb the internal organs they don’t need for the trip, like the intestines, to reduce load and free energy.

“For small songbirds, we are only just now beginning to understand the migratory routes that connect temperate breeding grounds to tropical wintering areas,” said Bill DeLuca at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

“We’re really excited to report that this is one of the longest non-stop overwater flights ever recorded for a songbird, and finally confirms what has long been believed to be one of the most extraordinary migratory feats on the planet.”

The researchers were less interested in solving a Guiness Book mystery than they were intend on tracing the decline of blackpoll populations. The songbirds are among the most common and can be found throughout North America, yet they’ve greatly declines in numbers in recent years. Researchers aren’t sure why, but these tracking efforts serve to guide them. For instance, it could help establish whether there’s a problem in North America or South America. It could very well be something on the return-trip, which goes on an alternate route. The return flight home is made over land, not over water. This more dangerous since they encounter more predators or man-made perils like high speed cars. Scientists aren’t sure why the return trip isn’t made overseas, but it might the remnant of an ancient migratory path.

Tags: migrationsongbird

ShareTweetShare
Tibi Puiu

Tibi Puiu

Tibi is a science journalist and co-founder of ZME Science. He writes mainly about emerging tech, physics, climate, and space. In his spare time, Tibi likes to make weird music on his computer and groom felines. He has a B.Sc in mechanical engineering and an M.Sc in renewable energy systems.

Related Posts

Archaeology

The Oldest Human Genomes in Europe Show How an Entire Branch of Humanity Disappeared

byTibi Puiu
7 months ago
Anthropology

Modern Humans and Neanderthals Had Kids for 7,000 Years and the Legacy Lives in Our Genes

byTibi Puiu
7 months ago
A pelican trying to balance its body.
Animals

Humans experience jet lag, but migratory animals don’t. Here’s why

byRupendra Brahambhatt
11 months ago
Animals

These incredible butterflies migrate over the Atlantic

byMihai Andrei
1 year ago

Recent news

Tennis May Add Nearly 10 Years to Your Life and Most People Are Ignoring It

July 4, 2025

Humans Have Been Reshaping Earth with Fire for at Least 50,000 Years

July 4, 2025

The Strangest Microbe Ever Found Straddles The Line Between Life and Non-Life

July 4, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.