Mission Surya – Day 25: Species Behaviour – Migratory Patterns
Important migratory behaviours including humpback whales, green sea turtles, indigo buntings, the Serengeti great migration and salmon navigation. Highly relevant for UPSC Prelims.
11 March 2026
Species behaviour is an important theme in UPSC Prelims, with questions asked almost every year. Migration is one of the key behavioural adaptations where animals travel long distances to find food, suitable climate or breeding grounds.
Core Concepts
Humpback whales migrate over 5,000 miles annually between polar feeding grounds and tropical breeding waters.
Green sea turtles use Earth's magnetic field for long-distance geomagnetic navigation.
Indigo buntings use celestial navigation, relying on star patterns during night migration.
Wildebeest and zebras undertake the Great Migration across the Serengeti–Mara ecosystem following rainfall and fresh grass.
Salmon return to their natal rivers using olfactory navigation based on smell.
Other Important Migration Examples
• Globe Skimmer Dragonflies migrate nearly 18,000 km across the Indian Ocean using monsoon winds.
• Diel Vertical Migration is the daily movement of marine organisms up and down the water column.
• Elephants use landmark navigation and strong spatial memory to locate water and seasonal resources.
Quick Revision for Prelims
- • Humpback whales migrate over 5,000 miles annually between polar feeding grounds and tropical breeding waters.
- • Green sea turtles use Earth's magnetic field for long-distance geomagnetic navigation.
- • Indigo buntings use celestial navigation, relying on star patterns during night migration.