Every year, millions of animals journey across the vast landscapes of the United States and Canada, following age-old migration routes shaped by seasons, climate, and instinct.
These travellers connect the two nations through an invisible network of life. Their annual movements reveal how deeply nature ignores borders, and how vital these shared ecosystems are to North America’s wildlife.
This article is for general knowledge only and is based on information from online sources. Always keep a safe distance from wildlife when observing.
1. Whooping Crane
Standing nearly five feet tall, the whooping crane is one of North America’s rarest birds. Each spring, these elegant waders travel from their winter home at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas to breed in Canada’s remote Wood Buffalo National Park.
Their migration covers thousands of kilometres and showcases remarkable endurance. Conservation efforts have slowly increased their numbers, though they remain critically endangered. Spotting one during migration is a privilege for birdwatchers along the Great Plains corridor.
2. Monarch Butterfly
With wings barely thicker than tissue paper, monarchs born in southern Canada embark on an epic journey spanning generations. They flutter south through the United States, heading toward the mountains of central Mexico where millions cluster together for winter.
No single butterfly completes the entire round trip. Instead, multiple generations share the task, with great-great-grandchildren returning north each spring. Their delicate beauty hides incredible navigational skills that scientists continue studying today.
3. American White Pelican
Picture a bird with a nine-foot wingspan gliding gracefully over prairie lakes. American white pelicans spend their winters lounging in southern U.S. waters, then head north when spring arrives.
Manitoba and other Canadian provinces become bustling nurseries where these sociable birds nest in large colonies. Unlike their coastal cousins, they never dive for fish. Instead, they work together, herding prey into shallow water and scooping up meals with their enormous pouches.
4. Arctic Tern
Arctic terns hold the record for the longest migration on Earth, travelling from Arctic breeding grounds all the way to Antarctic waters and back. During their Canadian nesting season, they raise chicks in the far north before beginning their incredible journey.
These small seabirds experience more daylight than any other animal, chasing endless summer across both hemispheres. They pass through U.S. coastal waters during migration, covering roughly 70,000 kilometres annually throughout their 30-year lifespan.
5. Leatherback Sea Turtle
Weighing up to 900 kilograms, leatherbacks are the giants of the turtle world. They cruise across entire ocean basins, following jellyfish blooms that provide their main food source.
During summer months, some venture into surprisingly cold Canadian waters off the Atlantic coast, far from their tropical nesting beaches. Their unique body design allows them to maintain warmth even in chilly northern seas. Spotting one surfacing near Newfoundland or Nova Scotia always creates excitement among marine researchers and whale watchers alike.
6. Humpback Whale
Few sights match the thrill of a 40-ton humpback launching itself completely out of the water. These acrobatic whales spend summers feasting in the rich feeding grounds off both Canadian coasts, building up energy reserves.
When winter approaches, they swim thousands of kilometres south to warmer U.S. waters and beyond, where they breed and give birth. They barely eat during this time, living off stored blubber. Their haunting songs can travel for miles underwater during breeding season.
7. Red-Winged Blackbird
Males announce spring’s arrival by flashing scarlet shoulder patches and singing their familiar conk-la-ree from every marsh and roadside ditch. Red-winged blackbirds breed abundantly across Canada and the northern United States wherever cattails grow.
Northern populations migrate south for winter, sometimes forming flocks numbering in the millions. They return early each spring, with males arriving first to claim prime territories. Their adaptability to various wetland habitats makes them one of the most numerous birds in North America today.
8. Caribou
Few land migrations rival the scale of caribou herds crossing Arctic and sub-Arctic landscapes. Some populations, particularly the Porcupine caribou herd, travel between Canada’s Yukon Territory and Alaska’s coastal plain, crossing the international border twice annually.
They follow ancient routes to calving grounds and summer feeding areas, covering up to 5,000 kilometres each year. Their broad hooves act like snowshoes in winter and paddles when swimming across rivers. Both males and females grow antlers, unusual among deer species.
9. Sandhill Crane
Their rolling, prehistoric calls echo across prairies and wetlands as sandhill cranes migrate in large V-formations. Breeding populations spread across Canada and the northern U.S., nesting in marshes and bogs.
When autumn arrives, they gather in spectacular staging areas before continuing south to wintering grounds stretching from California to Texas. The Platte River in Nebraska hosts over half a million cranes each spring, creating one of nature’s greatest wildlife spectacles. These ancient birds have existed virtually unchanged for millions of years.
10. Snow Goose
When snow geese migrate, they transform the sky into a living blizzard of white wings. They breed in Canada’s high Arctic, nesting in colonies that can number in the tens of thousands.
Their journey south takes them through both countries, with massive flocks stopping at staging areas to rest and refuel. Some winter along the Gulf Coast, while others settle in California’s Central Valley. Their population has exploded in recent decades, sometimes causing concern about habitat damage on their Arctic breeding grounds.
11. Bald Eagle
Canada’s northern bald eagles often migrate south when lakes and rivers freeze over, cutting off their fish supply. They travel to regions where open water remains available throughout winter, sometimes gathering by the hundreds near salmon runs or below dams.
Southern populations tend to stay put year-round, but northern birds may journey thousands of kilometres. Young eagles wander extensively before reaching breeding age at four or five years old. Their white heads and tails only develop once they mature fully.
12. Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
Weighing less than a nickel, ruby-throated hummingbirds accomplish an astonishing feat each year. They breed across eastern Canada and the U.S., then migrate to Central America for winter.
Many cross the Gulf of Mexico in a single non-stop flight lasting up to 20 hours, burning fat reserves built up from nectar feeding. Males arrive first in spring, their throats flashing like rubies in the sunlight. They beat their wings roughly 53 times per second and can fly backwards, a talent unique among birds.
