Researchers from the University of Haifa have uncovered striking differences in the migration strategies of three swift species that nest in Israel, birds known for spending almost their entire lives in flight.
In a new study led by Prof. Nir Sapir, together with PhD students Itai Bloch and Daniel Blucha from the Department of Evolutionary and Environmental Biology, and in collaboration with Dr. Christoph Meyer from the Swiss Ornithological Institute, the team tracked the full migratory journeys of the three species—from their breeding sites in Israel to their wintering grounds in Africa.
Despite their similar appearance and flight-based lifestyle, the study revealed that each species follows a distinct migration route, with notable differences in departure timing, duration of stay in various regions, migration distance, and intercontinental crossing strategies. These patterns differed not only between the species themselves, but also from migration behaviors previously documented in swift populations breeding in Europe.
Published in the Journal of Ornithology, the findings highlight how closely related species can adopt fundamentally different solutions to the same ecological challenge. The research advances understanding of avian migration, adaptation, and the environmental pressures shaping movement across continents.
The study also underscores the University of Haifa’s strength in integrative, international research, combining advanced tracking technologies, ecological theory, and global collaboration to reveal how animals navigate an increasingly complex world.
The findings were featured in Ynet and JNS, bringing this scientific insight to a broad public audience.