Birds With Longest Migrations

Arctic Tern

Holds the record for the longest migration—up to 71,000 km round trip from the Arctic to Antarctica and back every year.

Bar-Tailed Godwit

Flies over 12,000 km non-stop from Alaska to New Zealand—no resting, no eating, just pure endurance.

Sooty Shearwater

Covers around 64,000 km annually between New Zealand and the North Pacific—guided by instinct and wind currents.

Red Knot

Migrates over 15,000 km from the Arctic to the southern tip of South America, depending on coastal stopovers to refuel.

Swainson’s Hawk

Travels up to 22,000 km between North and South America, forming large groups called “kettles” during the journey.

Common Cuckoo

Migrates from Europe to Central Africa, navigating a journey of over 10,000 km with pinpoint accuracy.

Northern Wheatear

Tiny but mighty, this small bird flies more than 14,000 km between the Arctic and sub-Saharan Africa.