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Atlantic Flyway
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Side-by-side thematic maps of North America showing two major bird migration routes. The left map highlights the Mississippi Flyway in green, stretching from northern Canada and the Arctic through the central United States to the Gulf of Mexico. The right map highlights the Atlantic Flyway in purple, running along the eastern coast from northeastern Canada down to Florida and the Caribbean. Both maps use shaded regions and arrows to indicate the general paths and directions of migratory movement
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Atlantic Flyway

bird migration route
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Side-by-side thematic maps of North America showing two major bird migration routes. The left map highlights the Mississippi Flyway in green, stretching from northern Canada and the Arctic through the central United States to the Gulf of Mexico. The right map highlights the Atlantic Flyway in purple, running along the eastern coast from northeastern Canada down to Florida and the Caribbean. Both maps use shaded regions and arrows to indicate the general paths and directions of migratory movement
Mississippi and Atlantic flyways The Mississippi flyway (left) is the most heavily traveled of the migratory routes for birds. In the north it spreads out across most of interior Canada. The Atlantic flyway (right) has many west–east migration routes, in addition to the more typical north–south paths.

The Atlantic Flyway is a major migratory route for birds in eastern North America. This route extends north between the Atlantic Ocean and the Appalachian Mountains. Northerly, it splits into branches that go through West Virginia, Pennsylvania, up the Hudson River into Canada, and northeast across New England.1

Bird migration is a vital process driven by the need for food and suitable breeding grounds. Birds have evolved efficient ways to travel long distances, often following geographical features like river valleys, coastlines, and mountain ranges. The Atlantic Flyway is one of several significant routes in North America, alongside others like the Mississippi Flyway and the Pacific Flyway. These routes are crucial for the survival of many bird species, enabling them to move between their northern breeding grounds and southern wintering areas.23

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6 Britannica Sources
  1. flyway
  2. Atlantic flyway
  3. migration - In North America
  4. migration - Modes of migration
  5. migration - In Europe
  6. conservation - Flood control

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