Drift migration is the phenomenon in which
migrating birds are blown off course by the winds while they are in flight. It is more likely to happen to birds heading south in autumn because the large numbers of inexperienced young birds are less able to compensate than the adults heading north in spring.
Drift is assisted by disorientating conditions such as mist or drizzle, and can result in large numbers of birds arriving together in an area in which they are not normally seen. In the UK this is called a fall, while in the U.S. it is known as a fallout, though in the latter case, it need not involve vagrant birds.
An example would be an east wind in September blowing
Scandinavian migrants such as
bluethroats,
wrynecks, and the continental race of
robin
Robin may refer to:
Animals
* Australasian robins, red-breasted songbirds of the family Petroicidae
* Many members of the subfamily Saxicolinae (Old World chats), including:
**European robin (''Erithacus rubecula'')
**Bush-robin
**Forest rob ...
onto the east coast of
England and
Scotland, leading to temporary concentrations of these species at headlands like
Spurn.
See also
*
Reverse migration (birds)
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Drift Migration
Bird migration