Our Question: As a general rule, the farther north a migrant landbird travels, the less time it has for breeding. Which North American landbird spends the least amount of time on its breeding ground before heading south again?

Our Answer: The long yearly commute of many Arctic-breeding shorebirds leaves some individuals just weeks to complete breeding before returning to their southern wintering grounds.

What’s less well known is that a number of passerine species lead a similarly harried summertime lifestyle. Alder Flycatchers in Alaska are known to spend as little as 48 days on the nesting ground–in comparison, Harris’s Sparrows linger in their Canadian breeding range about twice that long.

Some Lark Buntings depart their summer range on the prairies as early as July, after arriving in mid- to late May.

There is a sense of urgency to the lives of birds!