New study reveals central america’s five great forests are critical havens for 5 billion migrating birds

A groundbreaking study has revealed that Central America’s vast forest networks serve as essential pit stops and winter homes for an astounding 5 billion migratory birds each year. Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society and Cornell Lab of Ornithology analyzed data from eBird, a citizen-science platform where birdwatchers worldwide log their sightings, to map exactly where North America’s migrating birds spend their winters.

The research identified five massive forest systems as critical migration hubs: Mexico’s Selva Maya (extending into Belize and Guatemala), the Moskitia forests of Honduras and Nicaragua, the Indio Maíz-Tortuguero corridor spanning Nicaragua and Costa Rica, La Amistad straddling Costa Rica and Panama, and the Darién forests of Panama and northern Colombia. Together, these interconnected ecosystems cover over 10 million hectares—an area larger than South Korea.

Of the 314 migratory bird species studied, more than half relied on these Central American forests in 2022. Some species, like wood thrushes, spend their entire winter season in these refuges, while others use them as crucial refueling stations. The study found that one-third of broad-winged hawks and 40% of cerulean warblers—a species that has already declined by 70% since the 1970s—depend on these forests during migration.

The findings underscore the urgent need to protect these transnational forest corridors. As climate change and deforestation threaten these ecosystems, the survival of billions of birds that rely on this ancient migratory pathway hangs in the balance, making conservation efforts more critical than ever.