In mid-August, birds in the Moscow Region began gathering in flocks…
In mid-August, birds in the Moscow Region began gathering in flocks in preparation for seasonal migration, with insectivorous species like swallows, swifts, and cuckoos among the first to depart, while some protected species such as the white stork and whooper swan remain until late October.
Consensus
- Birds in the Moscow Region began forming flocks in mid-August in preparation for seasonal migration.
- The migration is triggered by biological mechanisms tied to daylight length, food availability, and lunar phases, not just temperature.
- More than 200 years of ornithological observations in the region have recorded 314 bird species, 214 of which nest or have been observed nesting there.
- Insectivorous birds such as swallows, swifts, and cuckoys are among the first to migrate in August.
- Singing birds like nightingales, reed warblers, and thrushes follow in the migration sequence.
- Some protected species, including whooper swans and various grebes, remain in the region until late October.
- The peak of bird departure is expected in September.
Points of divergence
- Ornithologists recently discovered a nest of the red-throated grebe, a species listed in the Red Book of Russia, in Terletsky Forest Park. — vm
- Hundreds of starlings gathered on a private property in Kolomna. — m24
- Whooper swans have successfully raised offspring for two consecutive years on Patriarchs' Ponds in central Moscow, with six cygnets born in 2025. — m24
Coverage (2 sources)
- Birds in the Moscow region are gathering into flocks before migrating to winter quarters — Вечерняя Москва
- Birds in the Moscow region begin gathering into flocks before migrating to winter quarters — Москва 24