One in Nine Migratory Birds Face Extinction Threat Worldwide 2026

One in nine migratory birds are threatened with extinction, according to a new global report that reveals alarming declines in species that travel across continents. The State of the World’s Birds report, produced by BirdLife International, found that 45% of migratory species such as cuckoos, turtle doves, and Arctic terns are in decline. The migratory slender-billed curlew was officially declared extinct last year—the first global bird extinction in mainland Eurasia and Africa in recent centuries. Worldwide, seven migratory bird species have been confirmed or are suspected to have become extinct over the last 150 years.

Why Migratory Birds Are Disappearing

The threats to migratory birds are overwhelmingly caused by humans. According to the report, the main drivers include the intensification of farming, unsustainable hunting, pollution, invasive species, and global heating. These pressures act across entire flyways, the routes birds use during migration, making conservation particularly challenging. Seabirds and shorebirds, which depend on marine habitats and coastal wetlands, are faring especially badly.

Key Threats Identified

• Agricultural intensification – loss of nesting and feeding grounds
• Unsustainable hunting – illegal and unregulated killing along migration routes
• Pollution – pesticides, plastics, and chemical contaminants
• Invasive species – predators and competitors at breeding sites
• Global heating – shifting habitats and timing mismatches

Species in Decline: A Global Snapshot

The report highlights that migratory birds act as sentinels of environmental health. Their declines reveal growing pressure on the natural systems that sustain us. Stuart Butchart, chief scientist at BirdLife International, said: “Migratory birds are sentinels, and their declines reveal growing pressure on the natural systems that sustain us. But the science is equally clear: conservation works, with coordinated action preventing extinctions and helping populations recover. The solutions exist: what is needed now is their implementation at flyway scale.”

Conservation Successes and Solutions

Despite the grim statistics, the report emphasizes that conservation works. Coordinated action has prevented extinctions and helped populations recover. Examples include the recovery of the Bermuda petrel and the black-faced spoonbill, both of which benefited from international cooperation. The solutions exist: what is needed now is their implementation at flyway scale. This means protecting key stopover sites, reducing hunting pressure, and addressing climate change.

What Can Be Done?

• Strengthen legal protection for migratory species
• Restore and protect critical habitats along flyways
• Promote sustainable farming practices
• Combat illegal hunting and trade
• Support international agreements like the Convention on Migratory Species

The report was published at the Global Flyways summit in Nairobi, Kenya, where governments, NGOs, and scientists gathered to discuss urgent actions. The summit aims to secure commitments for flyway-scale conservation.

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