All the birds are already there… but which birds actually fly away in winter? We introduce you to 244 known migratory birds in Germany.

In a nutshell

  • move to another location for a period of time
  • depending on the distance, short-distance migrants; Long-distance migrants and part-time migrants
  • Germany as a winter home for some migratory birds from the north

What are migratory birds?

There are an estimated 50 billion migratory birds worldwide. This is the name given to all birds that leave their breeding grounds after the breeding season, move to another location and fly back to their breeding grounds for the new breeding season. When and where the migratory birds leave depends on the species. Migratory birds in Germany usually fly to warmer regions in the south at the beginning of the cold season. The migratory birds cover different distances. A distinction is made depending on the distance

  • sedentary birds
  • stick birds
  • partial puller
  • Long-distance migrants (about 2/3 of migratory birds in Germany)
  • Short and medium-distance migrants (about 1/3 of migratory birds in Germany)

Notice: To conserve energy, the birds often fly in the typical V formation. Weaker members fly in the slipstream and thus receive a small boost.

long-distance migrants

Long-distance migrants are migratory birds that cover particularly long distances, often several thousand kilometers. Also, they fly

  • mostly at night
  • alone, rarely in swarms
  • at fixed flight times (to the day)

Because of the distance traveled, long-distance trekkers migrate south in late summer or early fall and return late in spring. Typical representatives of this group are:

Migratory bird species from A to O

  • Alpine Swift (Tachymarptis melba)
  • Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostraleguss)
  • Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
  • Wood Hawk (Falco subbuteo)
  • Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis)
  • Common snipe (Gallinago gallinago)
  • Scaup (Aythya marila)
  • Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla)
  • Mountain Warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli)
  • Pendulum tit (Remiz pendulinus)
  • Bee-eater (Merops apiaster)
  • Bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
  • Tawny Pipit (Anthus campestris)
  • Whinchat (saxicola rubetra)
  • Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)
  • Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus)
The great reed warbler often travels long distances in autumn.
  • Dusky shearwater (Puffinus griseus)
  • Dusky Sandpiper (Tringa erythropus)
  • Long-tailed Skua (Stercorarius longicaudus)
  • Field warbler (Locustella naevia)
  • Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
  • Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius)
  • Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
  • Garden warbler (Sylvia borin)
  • Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
  • Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus)
  • Yellow-headed Wagtail (Motacilla flava)
  • Yellow Warbler (Hippolais icterina)
  • Grey-chested Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos)
  • Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
  • Green Warbler (Phylloscopus trochiloides)
  • Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
  • Carmine bullfinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)
  • Gray Plover (Pluvialis squatarola)
  • Lesser Warbler (Sylvia curruca)
  • Little Crake (Porzana parva)
  • Garganey (Anas querquedula)
  • red knot (Calidris canutus)
  • Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus)
  • Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
  • Salmon Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica)
  • Shoveler (Anas clypeata)
  • Common Swift (Apus apus)
  • House Martin (Delichon urbica)
  • Nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos)
  • Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
  • Red-backed Shrike (Lanius collurio)
  • Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)
  • Orpheus mocker (Hippolais polyglotta)
  • Ortolan (Emberiza hortulana)
The common swift is often seen in Germany.

From P to Z

  • Bar-tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica)
  • Golden oriole (Oriolus oriolus)
  • Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea)
  • Caspian Tern (Sterna caspia)
  • Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica)
  • Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)
  • Brent goose (Branta bernicla)
  • Warbler (Locustella luscinioides)
  • Red-footed Falcon (Falco vespertinus)
  • Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis)
  • Red-throated Pipit (Anthus cervinus)
  • Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)
  • Redshank (Tringa totanus)
  • Avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta)
  • Sanderling (Calidris alba)
  • Sedge Warbler (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus)
  • Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis)
  • Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus)
  • lesser spotted eagle (Aquila pomarina)
  • Black Kite (Milvus migrans)
  • Black Stork (Ciconia nigra)
  • Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus)
  • Aquatic Warbler (Acrocephalus paludicola)
  • Swallow Gull (Xema sabini)
  • spatula skuas (Stercorarius pomarinus)
  • Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
Sparrowhawks are also migratory birds.
  • Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria)
  • Spur Bunting (Calcarius lapponicus)
  • Spur Pipit (Anthus richardi)
  • Sprouts (Luscinia luscinia)
  • Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
  • Black-winged stilt (Himantopus himantopus)
  • Marsh runner (Limicola falcinellus)
  • Marsh Warbler (Acrocephalus palustris)
  • Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)
  • Pond Sandpiper (Tringa stagnatilis)
  • Temminck's Stint (Calidris temminckii)
  • Thorn (Phalaropus fulicarius)
  • Pied flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
  • Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)
  • Spotted Crake (Porzana porzana)
  • Turtle Dove (Streptopelia turtur)
  • Sand Martin (Riparia riparia)
  • Quail (Coturnix coturnix)
  • Corncrake (Crex crex)
  • Wood Warbler (Phylloscopus sibilatrix)
  • Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
  • Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida)
  • White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus)
  • White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)
  • Wave Runner (Oceanodroma leucorhoa)
  • Wryneck (Jynx torquilla)
  • Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)
  • Hoopoe (Upupa epops)
  • Meadow Pipit (Anthis pratensis)
  • Montagu's Harrier (Circus pygargus)
  • Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus)
  • Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita)
  • Little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus)
  • Lesser Goose (Anser erythropus)
  • Little Tern (Sternula albifrons)
  • Little Stint (Calidris minuta
The little chiffchaff also flies south in winter.

Short and medium-distance migrants

Short-distance migrants, on the other hand, rarely cover more than 2000 kilometers. They spend most of their winters in

  • Southern Europe
  • Western Europe
  • Mediterranean areas

Migratory birds of this species depend on the climate. The milder the winter, the later they migrate south. Because of the comparatively short distance, short-distance migrants can be found in Germany earlier in the spring than long-distance migrants.

Notice: If the winter is particularly mild, some short-distance migratory birds do not migrate south at all. Then, like cranes, they simply stay in Germany.

Short-distance migrants are:

Migratory bird species from A to L

  • Alpine Accentor (Prunella collaris)
  • Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
  • Bearded Tit (Panurus biarmicus)
  • Northern gannet (Morus bassanus
  • Mountain Pipit (Anthus spinoletta)
  • Coot (Fulica atra)
  • Shelduck (Tadorna tadorna)
  • Jackdaw (Corvus monedula)
  • Common eider (Somateria mollissima)
  • Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis)
  • Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
  • Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
  • Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris)
  • Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)
Crossbills are more southerly to be found in winter.
  • Goosander (Mergus merganser)
  • Gray wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)
  • Bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula)
  • Serin (Serinus serinus)
  • Yellowhammer (Emberiza citrinella)
  • Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria)
  • Greylag Goose (Anser anser)
  • Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea)
  • Curlew (Numenius arquata)
  • Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis)
  • Great crested grebe (Podiceps cristatus)
  • Black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
  • Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
  • Woodlark (Lullula arborea)
  • Mute swan (Cygnus olor)
  • Stock Dove (Columba oenas)
  • Great tit (Parus major)
  • Pochard (Netta rufina)
  • Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
  • Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)
  • Crane (Grus grus)
  • Pink-billed Goose (Anser brachyrhynchus)
Cranes are typical short-distance migrants.

From M to Z

  • Buzzard (Buteo buteo)
  • Sandpiper (Calidris maritima)
  • Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
  • Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis)
  • Mergus serrator (Mergus serrator)
  • Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
  • Mornel Plover (Charadrius morinellus)
  • Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)
  • Wigeon (Anas penelope)
  • Black-throated diver (Gavia arctica)
  • Great Gray Shrike (Lanius excubitor)
  • Ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus)
  • Bittern (Botaurus stellaris)
  • Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
  • Red Kite (Milvus milvus)
  • velvet duck (Melanitta fusca)
  • Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)
  • Gadwall (Anas strepera)
  • Long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus)
  • Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis)
  • Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
  • Black-capped Gull (Larus melanocephalus)
  • White-tailed eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla)
  • Great Egret (Ardea alba)
  • Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
  • Firecrest (Regulus ignicapilla)
  • Pintail (Anas acuta)
  • Red-throated Diver (Gavia stellata)
  • Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus)
  • Pochard (Aythya ferina)
  • Coal Tit (Periparus ater)
  • Guillemot (Uria aalge)
  • Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
  • Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
  • Long-eared owl (Asio otus)
  • Rock Bunting (Emberiza cia)
  • Lesser Gull (Larus minutus)
  • Smew (Mergellus albellus)
  • Little Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)
  • Little grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
The conspicuous little grebe is also one of the migratory birds in Germany.

mixed forms

There are also some migratory bird species that are both short and long-distance migrants. Where each bird ultimately settles depends on factors such as temperature and region. This group includes in particular:

  • Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)
  • Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
  • Common sandpiper (actitis hypoleucos)
  • Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra)
  • Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
  • Black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
  • Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
  • Moor duck (Aythya nyroca)
  • Marsh Harrier (Circus aeruginosus)
  • Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
  • little egret (Egretta garzetta)
  • Whooper swan (Cygnus cygnus)
  • Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
  • Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
  • Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola)
  • Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus)
  • Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus)
  • Miniature swan (Cygnus columbianus bewickii)
How far the woodcock flies in the fall depends on the population.

Migratory birds in Germany: partial migrants

But there are also bird species where only a few specimens migrate south. Depending on the bird species, region and temperature, these are then, for example, only the females or individual groups. The partial migrants include the following birds found in Germany:

  • Redpoll (Acanthis cabaret)
  • Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
  • Redpoll (Carduelis flammea)
  • Blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
  • Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)
  • Jay (Garrulus glandarius)
  • Siskin (Spinus spinus)
  • Hedge Canary (Serinus serinus)
  • Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
  • Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)
  • Teal (Anas crecca)
  • Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
  • Reed Bunting (Schoeniclus schoeniclus)
  • Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
  • Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
  • Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
  • Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
  • Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Not all robins leave us in winter.

Notice: The labels are only valid regionally. For example, the robin is a short-distance migrant in northern Europe, but is already a sedentary bird in central Europe.

Migratory birds as winter guests in Germany

But there are also migratory birds whose destination is Germany. They come mainly from Scandinavia, the Baltic States or Russia. Around 60 species of migratory birds are therefore only native to us during the cold season. These include:

  • Atlantic scoter (Melanitta nigra)
  • Linnet (Carduelis flavirostris)
  • White-fronted goose (Anser albifrons)
  • Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
  • Loon (Gavia immer)
  • Black guillemot (Cepphus grylle)
  • Canada goose (Branta canadensis)
  • Merlin (Falco columbarius)
  • Northern European black-headed gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
  • Bean goose (Anser fabalis)
  • Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis)
  • Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus)
  • Rare: Little Auk (All All)
  • Skua (Stercorarius skua)
  • Steppe Gull (Larus cachinnans)
  • Beach pipit (Anthus petrosus)
  • Nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes)
  • Dipper (Cinclus cinclus)
  • Barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis)
We can usually only admire the beautiful waxwing as a winter visitor.

Notice: Some of the short-distance migrants are also winter visitors, since northern species of the same population only travel a short distance to Germany.

frequently asked Questions

Why do migratory birds fly to warmer areas?

Migratory birds do not mind the cold per se, but the natural food supply becomes scarcer in winter. That's because most insects hide behind tree bark or in the ground in winter, so birds can't reach them. In order to have enough food, they then have to move to warmer regions where insects can still be found.

How do migratory birds find their way to and from their winter quarters?

That has not been finally clarified. However, the most widely held theory is that migratory birds use their own magnetic sense to orientate themselves on the earth's magnetic field. In addition, the birds probably recognize certain points in the landscape. In this way, their nests can easily be found again after their return.

How long and far do migratory birds fly?

It depends on the species. Flight routes and winter quarters vary between the individual migratory birds. The longest flight was recorded in October 2022. A bar-tailed godwit covered more than 12,000 kilometers.

How do migratory birds know when it will be warm again in Germany?

The migratory birds inherit this knowledge, so they know intuitively when it will be warmer again in Germany. However, you can also react spontaneously to unexpected weather situations when you are out and about. If the winter in this country lasts a little longer in a year, the birds will stop on the way and wait for warmer days.

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Animals in the garden