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AmericasFlyway

Across the Americas, the sky is alive with movement. From the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego, migratory birds follow ancient routes that unite a hemisphere. This is the Americas Flyway.

Spanning North, Central and South America, the Americas Flyway crosses 56 countries and territories and supports around 961 migratory bird species — more than half of all found anywhere on Earth.

Along the flyway birds depend on vast, connected landscapes, from grasslands, wetlands, seascapes, and coastal habitats to forests, savannas, and mountain ecosystems. BirdLife and its Partners focus action across priority landscapes, regions and ecoregions, protecting habitats, reducing threats and keeping the Americas Flyway alive and connected.

Laguna Colorada in Bolivia is a a major nesting and breeding ground for the iconic Chilean Flamingo. © Belikova Oksana, Shutterstock.

How we sustain the flyway

Protecting species and habitats

Migratory birds rely on connected habitats across the Americas. We protect priority species and restore the sites and landscapes they need throughout their journeys.

Guiding bird-friendly development

We guide development from the start. This helps projects protect habitats, reduce risks to birds and deliver nature-positive outcomes.

Building partnerships for action

We strengthen partnerships and capacity across countries and sectors, turning science and local knowledge into coordinated action for migratory birds.

Site Conservation

Through the Americas Flyway Initiative, with partners Audubon and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean (CAF), BirdLife makes the connections between responsible investments and the people working on the ground. Civil Society Organisations play a critical role in enabling and sustaining these investments long-term. From this wider network, the BirdLife Partnership has identified a preliminary list of 128 priority sites for conservation action: places where targeted protection and restoration can help keep birds moving across the hemisphere.

Learn more about the initiatives helping migratory birds
and their habitats thrive across the Americas.

Americas Flyways initiative
Grassland Alliance
Conserva Aves

We help migratory birds across the Americas

ECUADOR

Hero Species

Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) is a long-distance migratory landbird that breeds in North America and winters in the Tropical Andes, including Ecuador. It depends on humid montane forests with dense understory, making forest connectivity across the flyways essential for its survival.

FACTSHEET

Protection Measures

We are working to protect and restore forest habitats across priority landscapes, improve land-use management, and maintain connectivity along migratory routes and key stopover and wintering areas.

Future Plans

We will continue strengthening forest protection, restoration, and sustainable finance mechanisms in priority landscapes such as the Chocó and other forest regions important for migratory landbirds.

Play your partto protect nature

Your support is critical to ensure that BirdLife International can continue its work, delivering high impact and long-term conservation for both people and nature.