Question: What makes birds migrate? Do they go to the same places each year and return to the same place or just to the general area? Do they return to where they were born?

Rupert Marshall answered on 16 Mar 2017:

If you take a newly hatched migratory bird 200 miles south and then release it it will end up flying 200 miles beyond where it should stop. It just knows how far to fly. If you take a 2 year old bird 200 miles south and then release it it will stop when it gets to the right place: they are able to orientate and recognise landmarks. Even birds kept indoors with no change in day length will show migratory restlessness at the right time of year – they start flapping and hopping around, trying to go in their preferred direction because they have an internal body clock. Some birds will go to exactly the same territory and song post each year. Others will just be in the general area – it depends partly on the species and partly on how much competition there is for the best places to live.

PS Sorry I’m not Cedric – but I can dance!