Cuckoos and swifts have begun leaving Moscow as the annual autumn bird migration season officially gets under way across the Russian capital.
Swallows and flycatchers are also among the early species departing the city, according to official information published on the municipal portal mos.ru.
Insect-eating birds are typically the first to leave northern European latitudes in autumn. As temperatures fall and airborne insect populations drop, species like swifts and cuckoos must travel south to warmer wintering grounds.
Starlings, chaffinches and thrushes are expected to join the migration in mid-October. These species remain in the capital longer because their diet includes plant food alongside insects, allowing them to forage on seeds and seasonal berries after insect numbers dwindle.
Waterfowl will be the final group to conclude the seasonal migration. Meanwhile, a portion of the capital's bird population has successfully adapted to remaining in the city throughout the winter months, benefiting from urban microclimates and unfrozen waterways.
City ecosystems and wintering species
Moscow contains extensive natural territories, urban forests and public parks that provide critical habitats for local wildlife. More than 250 bird species have been recorded across the capital's natural areas, with approximately 100 of those species staying in Moscow for the winter.
Rowan trees and hawthorn bushes play a vital role in maintaining the urban ecosystem by serving as an essential food source during colder months. In addition, artificial nesting hollows installed across municipal parks give flycatchers and starlings the opportunity to construct nests and raise their young during the breeding season.
Environmental monitoring and urban habitats
The movement of migratory species is closely monitored by municipal environmental authorities. Azamat Kunafin, head of the biodiversity protection and monitoring department at the Department of Environmental Management and Coastal Protection, stated that migratory birds act as an indicator of the state of the urban environment.
He noted that species such as swallows, flycatchers, starlings and chaffinches return to Moscow each year because they find suitable nesting conditions and adequate food supplies within the city.
Municipal environmental officials had previously informed residents that the mass departure of cuckoos from the capital was expected to take place during September.
