Migration question

[Paisley_Tx]

Newbie birder here :)

I was wondering something. I had a pair of orioles visit this past week (still trying to find out if baltimore or orchard) and they were doing their 'dance' thing while in my back yard. ;) I'm in Texas, so I know they've got quite a few more miles to their destination going north.

My question is do migrating birds wait til they get to their destination to nest? Surely they don't breed & nest along the way, do they?

Thanks!

[columbidae]

I'm sure they will wait until they reach their destination before actually nesting and breeding. But they may very well flirt along the way.

BTW, what part of Texas are you in?

[Paisley_Tx]

thanks! I'm near DFW, in north central Texas.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Paisley,

There are a very few birds that do nest in the south of the breeding range in spring, then migrate further north and nest again later in the summer. The best example I know of is the European Quail. But the vast majority of migratory birds don't do this. Sorry, don't know if any American birds do.

Michael

[dacol]

Newbie birder here :)

I was wondering something. I had a pair of orioles visit this past week (still trying to find out if baltimore or orchard) and they were doing their 'dance' thing while in my back yard. ;) I'm in Texas, so I know they've got quite a few more miles to their destination going north.

My question is do migrating birds wait til they get to their destination to nest? Surely they don't breed & nest along the way, do they?

Thanks!

In another message you said you live near Dallas. Both Orchard and Baltimore Orioles breed in your area in appropriate habitat with Orchard being more widespread in Texas than Baltimore. Baltimore is more common in northeastern Texas. Around Dallas the Baltimores should be at SW limit of their breeding range.

Reference: "North-Central Texas Birds" - http://www.nctexasbirds.com/

Dalcio

[Paisley_Tx]

Dalcio, thanks for that information. I've not seen that website before. Good info!

[Paisley_Tx]

I wanted to update y'all. We do have a pair of Baltimore Orioles that are nesting nearby. :) I saw the female again today. About a week ago she was gathering up nesting materials out of my hanging basket. Kinda cool!

[higgins278]

im not to sure paisley I always thought on migration seasons, the birds always fly down south to the warmer continents to produce and then come back to the north when we are warm. so i think yes they must do, they must fly all the way down to the south and not making any nest on the way there. thats what i always thought anyway. :cool:

[higgins278]

Hi every body, i love wildlife, im trying to paint my picture of all animal species, not all on one canverse, thats why i signed up so i could look around see if i could get any visuals of any animals, just so i could paint them for my family. thats all, i think this is a way i can enjoy wildlife.