🐦 Bird Migration Map

Data, credits and licences

Every data source on this site allows commercial use. Records under CC BY-NC are left out on purpose.

Bird records: GBIF

Occurrence data from GBIF.org, accessed via the GBIF API on 22 October 2026. Only records with licence CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 are used (license=CC0_1_0&license=CC_BY_4_0); CC BY-NC records are never queried. Records must be present (not absence), observations (human or machine; no museum specimens or fossils) and without geospatial issues.

Monthly grids come from the GBIF maps API (https://api.gbif.org/v2/map/occurrence/adhoc/1/{x}/{y}.mvt?srs=EPSG:4326&bin=square&squareSize=64&taxonKey=…&month=… plus the filters above), giving 1.40625° cells. The all-bird baseline uses the same query with taxonKey=212 (Aves). UK timing uses the occurrence search API with country=GB and startDayOfYear week ranges.

Citation still to add: GBIF asks users to cite a GBIF download DOI. This site does not have one yet (it needs a GBIF account, which we have not created yet). We will make a download with the same filters and cite its DOI here. Until then the API queries and the main contributing datasets are listed below.

SpeciesRecordsBy licenceQuery
Barn swallow14,765,832CC BY 4.0: 14,123,234, CC0: 1,151,076GBIF search
Common cuckoo1,365,662CC BY 4.0: 986,779, CC0: 452,048GBIF search
White stork1,031,016CC BY 4.0: 953,542, CC0: 107,811GBIF search
Osprey7,317,432CC BY 4.0: 6,923,381, CC0: 499,375GBIF search
Arctic tern574,855CC BY 4.0: 485,802, CC0: 232,654GBIF search
Bar-tailed godwit640,872CC BY 4.0: 457,035, CC0: 191,424GBIF search
Common swift2,286,766CC BY 4.0: 1,755,617, CC0: 681,037GBIF search
Barnacle goose881,041CC0: 564,708, CC BY 4.0: 335,840GBIF search
Common crane1,670,367CC0: 879,215, CC BY 4.0: 846,317GBIF search
Red knot614,576CC BY 4.0: 475,068, CC0: 143,657GBIF search

The eBird Observation Dataset (EOD) is published on GBIF by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology under CC BY 4.0, and is used here as published on GBIF. eBird’s own products (Status & Trends, the eBird Basic Dataset, the eBird API) are not used.

Main contributing datasets (top 20 per species)

DatasetPublisherLicenceSpecies
1921 Onward, Occupied Swift Nests, UK · doi:10.15468/3es6ecRoyal Society for the Protection of BirdsCC0 1.0Common swift
1921-Onwards, Swift Screaming Parties, UK · doi:10.15468/peedv8Royal Society for the Protection of BirdsCC0 1.0Common swift
A Sampling-event Dataset from Aerial Surveys of Northern Eurasian Waterbirds, 2014–2024 · doi:10.15468/yqtagkChinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)CC BY 4.0Barnacle goose
ArtenFinder · doi:10.15468/jnnaldArtenFinder bei der Stiftung Natur und Umwelt RLP und der Stiftung Naturschutz BerlinCC0 1.0White stork
Artportalen · doi:10.15468/kllkylSLU ArtdatabankenCC0 1.0Barn swallow, Common cuckoo, White stork, Osprey, Arctic tern, Bar-tailed godwit, Common swift, Barnacle goose, Common crane, Red knot
Azorean Biodiversity Portal · doi:10.15468/j0iceoUniversidade dos AçoresCC BY 4.0Bar-tailed godwit
Bird Ringing Centre in Sweden (NRM) · doi:10.15468/cghs8pSwedish Museum of Natural HistoryCC0 1.0Barn swallow, White stork, Osprey, Arctic tern, Common swift, Barnacle goose, Red knot
Bird Ringing Records from Luxembourg · doi:10.15468/gbux2aNational Museum of Natural History, LuxembourgCC0 1.0Barn swallow
Bird ringing and recovery database (TIPU) · doi:10.15468/kht1r3Finnish Museum of Natural History - Zoology UnitCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, Osprey, Arctic tern, Common swift, Barnacle goose, Common crane, Red knot
Birda - Global Observation Dataset · doi:10.15468/6kud7xBirdaCC BY-NC 4.0Barn swallow, Common cuckoo, White stork, Osprey, Arctic tern, Bar-tailed godwit, Common swift, Barnacle goose, Common crane, Red knot
Birdex Bird Sightings · doi:10.15468/xfwud4BirdexCC BY 4.0Common swift
CLICNAT- Base de données naturaliste picarde-CLICNAT Base de données naturaliste picarde gérée par Picardie Nature · doi:10.15468/pmodx6UAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Common cuckoo, Red knot
Censuses of breeding birds: Line transect and Area based · doi:10.15468/3gyvzyFinnish Museum of Natural History - Zoology UnitCC BY 4.0Common cuckoo, Common crane
Coastal birds in the Gulf of Bothnia (Kustfåglar i Bottniska Viken) · doi:10.15468/37u448Department of Biology, Lund UniversityCC0 1.0Arctic tern, Barnacle goose
Comptage décadaires oiseaux d'eau des Espaces protégés (LPO France) - Comptage décadaire | RNN de Moëze-Oléron · doi:10.15468/pew4ryUAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Bar-tailed godwit, Red knot
Comptages Wetlands, dénombrements des oiseaux d'eau à la mi-janvier en France métropolitaine-Comptages Wetlands, dénombrements des Oiseaux d'eau à la mi-janvier en France métropolitaine · doi:10.15468/auo1jtUAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Bar-tailed godwit, Red knot
Danish government nature monitoring portal "Danmarks Miljøportals Naturdatabase" · doi:10.15468/ku2f82Styrelsen for Grøn Arealomlægning og Vandmiljø/The Danish Agency for Green Land Use and Aquatic Environment (SGAV)CC BY 4.0Arctic tern, Bar-tailed godwit, Barnacle goose, Red knot
Données LPO Réserves Naturelles Nationales - Données des réserves naturelles nationales gérées par la Ligue pour la protection des oiseaux (LPO) · doi:10.15468/wnwf23UAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Bar-tailed godwit, Red knot
Données Oiseaux des Jardins · doi:10.15468/db5mw8UAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, Common cuckoo, Common swift
Données STOC-EPS · doi:10.15468/ocucidUAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, Common cuckoo, Common swift
Données issues du portail Sigogne - Bourgogne-Franche-Comté - Données d'observation du groupe taxonomique Oiseaux de la LPO 21-71 et de la LPO 89 · doi:10.15468/nh7jw4UAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, Common cuckoo, Common crane
Données issues du portail Sigogne - Bourgogne-Franche-Comté - Observatoire LPO Franche-Comté des espèces (oiseaux, amphibiens, reptiles, mammifères sauf chauve-souris) · doi:10.15468/mag1qrUAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, Common cuckoo, White stork, Common swift
Données naturalistes opportunistes Faune-France - Données Naturalistes Faune-France 2020 Communes · doi:10.15468/demggqUAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Common cuckoo, White stork, Osprey, Common swift, Common crane
Données naturalistes opportunistes Faune-France - Liste des espèces de la faune sauvage de la base de données naturalistes Faune-France 2018. · doi:10.15468/wkzdf4UAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Common cuckoo, Common swift
Données naturalistes opportunistes Faune-France - Liste des espèces de la faune sauvage observées en 2019 selon le maillage communal français de la base de données naturalistes Faune-France · doi:10.15468/wzbxqbUAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Common cuckoo, White stork, Common swift, Common crane
Données naturalistes opportunistes Faune-France-Données Naturalistes Faune-France 2021 Communes · doi:10.15468/sp9mjxUAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Common cuckoo, White stork, Osprey, Common swift, Common crane
Dreal Occitanie- Base Biodiv SINP - Données faune pour le rapportage européen DHFF-DO 2018 · doi:10.15468/vn42mkUAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0White stork, Osprey, Common crane
EOD – eBird Observation Dataset · doi:10.15468/aomfnbCornell Lab of OrnithologyCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, Common cuckoo, White stork, Osprey, Arctic tern, Bar-tailed godwit, Common swift, Barnacle goose, Common crane, Red knot
EcoCertified: A cameraTrap survey in solar field and control grasslands · doi:10.15468/m9b3e4Wageningen Environmental ResearchCC BY 4.0Barnacle goose
Eremaea · doi:10.15468/eq54iwEremaeaCC BY 4.0Osprey, Bar-tailed godwit, Red knot
European Seabirds At Sea (ESAS) · doi:10.14284/601Flanders Marine InstituteCC BY 4.0Arctic tern
Faune Occitanie : Saisie naturaliste opportuniste-Données opportunistes OISEAUX de Faune-Occitanie · doi:10.15468/2pbhz4UAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, Common cuckoo, White stork, Osprey, Common swift, Common crane
Fixed Point Survey for Shorebirds of the family Scolopacidae and Charadriidae · doi:10.15468/un6csoNational Institute of Genetics, ROISCC BY 4.0Bar-tailed godwit
Fourth Finnish Bird Atlas 2022–2025, observations from FinBIF Notebook · doi:10.15468/ndafsaFinnish Museum of Natural History - Zoology UnitCC BY 4.0Arctic tern, Barnacle goose
Great Backyard Bird Count · doi:10.15468/dml1pkAvian Knowledge NetworkCC0 1.0Osprey
Hawk Migration Association of North America - HawkCount · doi:10.15468/grtylfAvian Knowledge NetworkCC0 1.0Osprey
Inventaires de la RN d'Arjuzanx-Recherche de Grues équipées · doi:10.15468/qfn86eUAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Common crane
Long term data from the Hanko Bird Observatory · doi:10.15468/hskrkpFinnish Biodiversity Information FacilityCC BY 4.0Arctic tern, Bar-tailed godwit, Barnacle goose, Red knot
NABU|naturgucker · doi:10.15468/uc1aponaturgucker.deCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, Common cuckoo, White stork, Osprey, Arctic tern, Bar-tailed godwit, Common swift, Barnacle goose, Common crane, Red knot
NSW BioNet Atlas · doi:10.15468/14jd9gNSW Department of planning, industry and environmentCC BY 4.0Bar-tailed godwit
New South Wales Bird Atlassers · doi:10.15468/kfkspoNSW Bird AtlassersCC BY 4.0Osprey, Bar-tailed godwit, Red knot
Norwegian Species Observation Service · doi:10.15468/zjbzelNorwegian Biodiversity Information CentreCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, Common cuckoo, Osprey, Arctic tern, Bar-tailed godwit, Common swift, Barnacle goose, Common crane, Red knot
Notebook, general observations · doi:10.15468/4g56tpFinnish Biodiversity Information FacilityCC BY 4.0Barnacle goose, Common crane
Parc naturel régional du Marais poitevin-Réactualisation des ZNIEFF · doi:10.15468/7qchk8UAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0White stork
Point counts of breeding terrestrial birds · doi:10.15468/nzqj7yFinnish Museum of Natural History - Zoology UnitCC BY 4.0Common cuckoo
Ringing or Bird Recapture · doi:10.15468/4fhcd5ICNF - Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das FlorestasCC BY 4.0White stork
SAFRING: Historical Bird Ringing Records (2005-2009) · doi:10.15468/jclwazSouth African National Biodiversity InstituteCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, Red knot
SEAPOP - Last observation per locality in breeding season · doi:10.15468/6vd3f7Norwegian Institute for Nature ResearchCC BY 4.0Arctic tern
Seabirds in Norway - Estimated population sizes (SEAPOP) · doi:10.15468/vomcviNorwegian Institute for Nature ResearchCC BY 4.0Arctic tern
Seabirds of the Southern and South Indian Ocean · doi:10.15468/tu0dcwAustralian Antarctic Data CentreCC BY 4.0Arctic tern
Southern African Bird Atlas Project · doi:10.15468/ry4ux6South African National Biodiversity InstituteCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, White stork
Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2 · doi:10.2989/00306525.2022.2125097FitzPatrick Institute of African OrnithologyCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, White stork, Osprey, Bar-tailed godwit, Common swift
Species recordings from the Danish National Portal Arter.dk · doi:10.15468/q3yy4uStyrelsen for Grøn Arealomlægning og Vandmiljø/The Danish Agency for Green Land Use and Aquatic Environment (SGAV)CC BY 4.0Barnacle goose
Suivi Grue cendrée-Recensement de la Grue cendrée sur les zones de gagnage du département des Landes · doi:10.15468/a7symgUAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Common crane
Suivi d'oiseaux sauvages par marquage en France - CRBPO - Base de données de baguage et déplacements d'oiseaux de France / Bird ringing and movement database for France. Centre de Recherches sur la Biologie des Populations d'Oiseaux, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France. https://crbpo.mnhn.fr/ · doi:10.15468/yf8wjfUAR PatriNat (OFB-MNHN-CNRS-IRD), ParisCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, White stork, Red knot
Swedish Bird Survey: Fixed routes (Standardrutterna) · doi:10.15468/hd6w0rDepartment of Biology, Lund UniversityCC0 1.0Common cuckoo, Common crane
Swedish Bird Survey: Summer point count routes (Sommarpunktrutterna) · doi:10.15468/2aajk9Department of Biology, Lund UniversityCC0 1.0Common cuckoo
Swedish Bird Survey: Swedish coastal bird monitoring programme (Nationella kustfågelövervakningen) · doi:10.15468/sg5spwDepartment of Biology, Lund UniversityCC0 1.0Arctic tern
Swedish Bird Survey: Winter point count routes (Vinterpunktrutterna) · doi:10.15468/n5nuucDepartment of Biology, Lund UniversityCC0 1.0Barnacle goose
Taiwan Wild Bird Federation Bird Records Database · doi:10.15468/blpygbTaiwan Biodiversity Research InstituteCC BY 4.0Barn swallow, Osprey, Bar-tailed godwit, Red knot
The Finnish Nature Association's Spring monitoring · doi:10.15468/v6atsxFinnish Biodiversity Information FacilityCC BY 4.0Common crane
The VI national White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) census in Portugal (2014) · doi:10.15468/69ck2fICNF - Instituto da Conservação da Natureza e das FlorestasCC BY 4.0White stork
Threatened species occurrences, Denmark 1991-2015 · doi:10.15468/5cpovjDanish Nature AgencyCC BY 4.0Arctic tern
USGS GAP - Alaska - Vertebrates - 1867-2009 · doi:10.15468/hkfvyxUnited States Geological SurveyCC0 1.0Arctic tern
USGS PWRC - Bird Phenology Program · doi:10.15468/w4cjwmUnited States Geological SurveyCC0 1.0Osprey
Victorian Biodiversity Atlas · doi:10.15468/khlfs3Victorian Department of Energy, Environment and Climate ActionCC BY 4.0Bar-tailed godwit
Waarnemingen.be - Bird occurrences in Flanders and the Brussels Capital Region, Belgium · doi:10.15468/0mbhvdNatuurpuntCC0 1.0Barn swallow, Common cuckoo, White stork, Osprey, Arctic tern, Bar-tailed godwit, Common swift, Barnacle goose, Common crane, Red knot
Waterbirds of the Botanic Garden Meise · doi:10.15468/cgffyqMeise Botanic GardenCC0 1.0Barnacle goose
Watervogels - Wintering waterbirds in Flanders, Belgium · doi:10.15468/lj0udqResearch Institute for Nature and Forest (INBO)CC0 1.0Barnacle goose
iNaturalist Research-grade Observations · doi:10.15468/ab3s5xiNaturalist.orgCC BY-NC 4.0Barn swallow, White stork, Osprey, Arctic tern, Bar-tailed godwit, Barnacle goose, Common crane, Red knot

Tracks: Movebank Data Repository

Animal tracking data packages licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0, downloaded from the Movebank Data Repository. We keep one fix per bird per day (the median), drop marked outliers and obvious Argos spikes, keep the 365-day window with the widest north–south range and simplify the line.

Facts and descriptions

Facts (wingspan, adult weight, IUCN status) from Wikidata, CC0. Short descriptions are the opening of each species’ English Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA 4.0, unchanged except for shortening at a sentence end.

Photos

From Wikimedia Commons, under the licence given for each file. The round marker icons on the globe are scaled crops of these photos.

Map and code

Country outlines: Natural Earth (public domain). Globe: MapLibre GL JS 5.24.0, BSD-3-Clause, served from this site (licence).

Not used

eBird Status & Trends, the eBird Basic Dataset and the eBird API, BirdLife and IUCN range maps, EuroBirdPortal and the EURING migration atlas: their terms do not allow this kind of commercial use without permission.