Animals that Migrate

Migration is a mass movement undertaken by animals. A notable feature of this phenomenon is that migration involves a return journey to the original location. This separates it from emigration, which is a permanent relocation.

Animals undergo migration in search of food, better habitats due to a change in the climate, or to find a mate. These usually occur seasonally or annually but might also occur under drastic environmental changes. A well-known example is how birds fly from the Northern Hemisphere to the south in winter.

With advances in technology, scientists have been able to track the migratory patterns of most animals. However, it has yet to be understood how certain species can determine where they need to travel and the time they must leave to reach their destination.

List of Animals that undergo Migration

Mammals

• Baleen Whale
• Blue Whale
• Blue Wildebeest
• Gray Whale
• Humpback Whale 
• Northern Elephant Seal
• Plains Zebra
• Porcupine Caribou
• Pronghorn

Birds

• Adelie Penguin
• Arctic Tern
• Bar-Tailed Godwit
• Canada Goose
• Eastern Bluebird
• Emperor Penguin
• Red-Tailed Hawk
• Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
• Sandhill Crane
• Snow Goose
• Snowy Owl

Reptiles

• Galápagos Tortoise
• Leatherback Sea Turtle

Fish

• Atlantic Sturgeon
• Chinook Salmon
• Great White Shark
• Tuna

Insects

• Globe Skimmer Dragonfly
• Monarch Butterfly

Invertebrates

• Christmas Island Red Crab
• Humboldt Squid
• Zooplankton

The Longest Distances covered by a Species while Migrating

• Arctic Tern (44000 miles)
• Bar-tailed Godwit (15500 miles)
• Gray Whale (14000 miles)
• Leatherback Sea Turtle (12700 miles)
• Great White Shark (12400 miles)
• Humpback Whale (11706 miles)
• Globe Skimmer Dragonfly (8000-11000 miles)
• Adelie Penguin (8000 miles)
• Monarch Butterfly (5500 miles)
• Porcupine Caribou (1500 miles)
• Blue Wildebeest (500-1000 miles)
• Plains Zebra (300 miles)

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