Animal Migration

Some animals travel thousands of miles every year. This journey is called migration. Animals migrate to find food, warmer weather, or a safe place to have babies. Birds, fish, and even butterflies are famous migrants.

Why Animals Migrate

Animals migrate for different reasons. Some move to warmer places when winter comes. Others travel to find more food or water. Many animals return to the same spot where they were born to have their own babies.

Famous Migrations

The Arctic tern flies from the Arctic to Antarctica and back every year. That is about 44,000 miles! Wildebeests in Africa travel in huge herds across the grasslands. Salmon swim upstream in rivers to lay their eggs.

Fun Facts

• The Arctic tern travels farther than any other animal, flying about 44,000 miles each year.
• Some butterflies migrate over 3,000 miles to reach their winter home.
• Gray whales swim about 12,000 miles round trip during migration.

Did You Know?

Baby sea turtles hatch on a beach and swim out to sea. Years later, they return to the exact same beach to lay their own eggs!