Colombia sits at the crossroads of two continents, making it one of the most vital migratory bird corridors on Earth. Discover the science behind bird migration and the best seasons to witness it.
Twice a year, billions of birds undertake one of nature’s most extraordinary journeys — migration. Colombia, positioned at the crossroads of North and South America, sits directly in the path of these great movements, making it one of the most important stopover and wintering destinations on the continent.
Over 150 species of migratory birds visit Colombia each year, traveling from as far north as the Canadian tundra to spend the boreal winter in Colombia’s diverse ecosystems. Shorebirds rest on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts, warblers fill the Andean forests, and raptors ride thermal currents through the valleys on their way further south.
The science behind migration is as fascinating as the spectacle itself. Birds navigate using a combination of Earth’s magnetic field, the position of the sun and stars, and memorized landscape features. Some species complete round trips of over 20,000 kilometers, returning to the same territory year after year with extraordinary precision.
For GeoNature expeditions, the migration season from September through November and again from March through May represents some of the most exciting birding of the year, with the chance to see both resident Colombian species and visiting migrants sharing the same habitats.
