Alaskan Warblers Take a 6,800-Mile Detour to the Gulf Coast, Defying Expectations
Researchers at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center used new multi-sensor geolocators to track yellow-rumped warblers breeding in Anchorage, Alaska. Contrary to expectations that they would migrate directly to California, the birds traveled east across Canada to winter in the Gulf Coast, covering a 6,800-mile round trip. This finding suggests ancient glacial cycles shaped current migration routes, as birds followed expanding forest corridors rather than taking the shortest path.