Continental Summary

Scattered light to moderate flights of Vaux’s Swift, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Western Tanager, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and Orange-crowned Warbler took flight in the West this week, while moderate flights of Red-eyed Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Swainson’s Thrush, Veery, Gray Catbird, Magnolia Warbler, and Scarlet Tanager became increasingly widespread by the end of the week in the East.

Curious what birds will move next? Check out our forecast.

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Quick Links to Regions

Upper Midwest and Northeast	Gulf Coast and Southeast
Great Plains	West

Upper Midwest and Northeast

Light to moderate migration was apparent from the Appalachians east to the coast to kick off the weekend. By Saturday and Sunday nights, more extensive moderate movements appeared, first in the Great Lakes and Mississippi River valley, then into the Appalachian and coastal regions. Monday and Tuesday nights saw locally heavy and very heavy flights in the upper Mississippi River valley, including this amazing morning flight observation. By Wednesday and Thursday, the slow movements of a frontal boundary to the east enhanced flights further, with moderate and heavy flights becoming more common over the Great Lakes and New York and New England.

Top Movers

Increasing

Decreasing

Gulf Coast and Southeast

Light to moderate flights were the norm across the region this week, as birds gradually began to overtake insects and bats as components of the nocturnal atmosphere. Locally heavy flights over Texas were probably a mixture of all of these biologicals, whereas building week’s movements in the southeastern coastal plain were increasingly dominated by birds by period’s end. Note also the departures of birds from Florida, including late week departures of birds leaving the Keys for Cuba

Top Movers

Increasing

Decreasing

Great Plains

The central and southern Plains saw moderate to heavy movements kickoff the weekend, followed by a Monday night pulse of similar intensity movements in the northern Plains. But in the days that followed, the region quieted substantially as less favorable conditions prevailed. These nights were not without migration, however, as scattered light movements continued where more marginal conditions (in particular, light winds) persisted.

Top Movers

Increasing

Decreasing

West

California, portions of the Desert Southwest, and the eastern and northern Rockies all saw a peppering of light to moderate flights during the first half of the forecast period. Migration was generally more apparent during this time, as less favorable conditions with generally lower intensity and less extensive movements followed during the second half of the period. Note the moderate flight in northeastern Montana that ends the period, associated with a localized northern tier flight behind a frontal boundary.

Top Movers

Increasing

Decreasing

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Farnsworth and Van Doren