Bird Migration - IELTS Reading Answers

Fascinating Facts About Birds

Here are some intriguing facts regarding birds:

1. The heart of a bird can beat as many as 1000 times a minute while in flight.
2. New Zealand's kiwi stands as the sole flightless bird on earth.
3. Penguins are the only birds capable of walking in a straight line.
4. Among all bird families, crows possess the largest brain relative to their body size.
5. An owl can rotate its head a full 360 degrees, though it cannot shift its eyes.

Paragraph 1

A variety of unique physiological adaptations enable birds to accomplish such remarkable feats of endurance. They possess hollow, lightweight bones, intricately designed feathers that generate thrust and lift for rapid flight, superior natural navigation systems that outperform human inventions, and an efficient heat-retaining design that directs blood circulation beneath thick, water-resistant layers of plumage, allowing them to endure the most severe environments. Their respiratory systems must operate with high efficiency during extended high-altitude flights, so they feature an oxygen extraction mechanism in their lungs far superior to that of any mammal. Their bodies accumulate substantial fat reserves near the end of the summer breeding season, when food is plentiful, providing adequate fuel for their long migratory journeys.

Paragraph 2

The primary catalyst for bird migration is the search for sufficient food during the winter months when supplies become limited. This applies particularly to birds nesting in the temperate and arctic zones of the Northern Hemisphere, where food thrives throughout the brief growing season. Given that many species can tolerate cold temperatures as long as food is available, they are forced to relocate when nourishment runs low. Nevertheless, fascinating questions remain.

Paragraph 3

A curious phenomenon is that many birds travel much farther than strictly necessary just to find food and agreeable weather. It remains uncertain why British swallows do not stop in equatorial Africa for the winter, where they could easily survive, instead of flying thousands of miles further to their preferred wintering grounds in South Africa's Cape Province. The massive journeys undertaken by shorebirds breeding near the poles and arctic terns feeding on mudflats remain unexplained. Generally, the further north a species breeds, the further south it spends the winter. For arctic terns, this entails an annual round trip of 25,000 kilometres. Yet all these birds fly over numerous areas of seemingly perfect habitat across two hemispheres on their way to distant southern destinations. While we may not fully grasp why birds travel to specific locations, we can still admire their incredible achievements.

Paragraph 4

One of the greatest enigmas is how young birds, lacking parental guidance, manage to locate traditional wintering sites. Very few travel alongside their young, and occasionally offspring do not even recognize what their parents look like. A well-known instance is the cuckoo, which lays its eggs in another species' nest and never sees its offspring again. It is astonishing that, after being raised by foster parents, the young cuckoo migrates to its native tropical wintering grounds and subsequently returns alone to northern Europe the following season to find a mate of its own kind. The logical deduction is that it inherits an innate navigational capacity along with a mental template of another cuckoo from its parents. Even so, no one has any definitive idea how this is possible.

Paragraph 5

Increasing evidence indicates that birds use the locations of the sun and stars for compass guidance. Additionally, they seem capable of detecting the earth's magnetic field, likely due to microscopic magnetite crystals within their brains. Nevertheless, precise navigation also demands an awareness of location and time, especially when disoriented. Trials demonstrate that birds can rapidly find their way back to their nesting sites even after flying thousands of kilometres across unfamiliar terrain. Such remarkable capabilities stem from processing multiple intricate signals, such as an inherent map of the night sky and the pull of the earth's magnetic field. The exact manner in which birds utilize these instruments remains a mystery, but one fact is clear: their environmental sensory perception surpasses our own. Most small birds undertake migration at night, tracking the position of the setting sun. Besides observing the sunset, however, they also appear to perceive the plane of polarized light it generates, which helps them adjust their compass. Traveling by night offers further advantages. Daytime predatory hunters are avoided, and there is a lower risk of dehydration caused by prolonged flight under intense sunshine. Furthermore, nighttime air is generally cooler and steadier, which is ideal for smooth, long-range flight.

Paragraph 6

All journeys entail considerable hazards, nonetheless, and timing departures accurately is an art in itself for reaching destinations safely. This requires utilizing accurate weather forecasts and making the most of favorable winds. Birds excel at both, with laboratory studies demonstrating that some can even sense the subtle barometric pressure difference between the floor and ceiling of a room. Birds frequently react to atmospheric changes prior to any visible signs appearing. Grassland-feeding lapwings migrate from the Netherlands to the British Isles, France, and Spain as a cold front approaches. The birds risk starvation if the ground freezes. Yet, they fly back to Holland ahead of a thaw prompted by a pressure shift signaling better weather.

Paragraph 7

The day before a letter announcing its release was dispatched, a Welsh Manx shearwater transported to America and set free was discovered back in its burrow on Skokholm Island off the Pembrokeshire coast! Conversely, every autumn, a few North American birds are blown across the Atlantic by swift westerly tailwinds. They undoubtedly reach Europe safely, yet strong evidence suggests some return to North America the following spring, likely having spent the winter alongside European migrants in mild African climates.

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Questions 1-7

Seven paragraphs comprise the reading passage, from A-G.From the list of headings below, pick the appropriate heading for each paragraph.On the answer sheet, fill in boxes 1-7 with the proper number, I-X.

List of headings

1. The best moment to migrate.
2. The unexplained rejection of closer feeding ground.
3. The influence of weather on the migration route.
4. Physical characteristics that allow birds to migrate.
5. The main reason why birds migrate.
6. The best wintering grounds for birds.
7. Research findings on how birds migrate.
8. Successful migration despite the trouble of wind.
9. The contrast between long-distance migration and short-distance migration.
10. Mysterious migration despite lack of teaching.
11. Paragraph A
12. Paragraph B
13. Paragraph C
14. Paragraph D
15. Paragraph E
16. Paragraph F
17. Paragraph G

Questions 8 and 9

Pick TWO letters from A-E.Fill in boxes 8 and 9 on the answer sheet with the appropriate letters.

Which TWO of the following claims about bird migration are true?

A. Birds frequently fly farther than necessary. B. Birds that travel in families are secure. C. Nighttime bird flying requires less water. D. Compared to humans, birds have far sharper eyesight. E. Only migratory birds can withstand heavy winds.

Questions 10-13

Applying NO MORE THAN TWO WORDS from the passage, complete the sentences below. Fill in boxes 10–13 on your answer sheet with your responses.

10. How juvenile birds like cuckoos can locate their wintering sites without_________is a huge enigma.

11. There is proof that birds can determine directions like a ____________ by looking at the sun and stars.

12. One benefit of nighttime flying for birds is that they can avoid __________ contact with.

13. According to laboratory testing, birds can sense weather without the ___________ cues.

You can also check out our detailed solutions for Second Nature IELTS Reading Answers to practice another IELTS Reading passage and boost your overall reading accuracy with clear explanations.

The Bird Migration reading answers with explanations are given below.

(Note: The language highlighted in bold refers to the passage's location and answer. The explanatory sentences from the reading passage are shown in italics.)

1. IV

Answer Location: Paragraph A, Line 2.Explanation: The second line of the paragraph have clearly mentioned the physical traits of the birds that enable them to migrate and that are, “They have hollow, light-weight bones, intricately patterned feathers that provide thrust and lift for swift flight, navigation systems that are far superior to those created by humans, and a clever heat-conserving structure that, among other things, emphasises all blood circulation below layers of warm, water-resistant plumage, making them capable of surviving in the harshest climates.”

2. V

Answer Location: Paragraph B, Line 1.Explanation: The paragraph clearly portrays that, “ Finding enough food during the winter, when it is scarce, is the primary driver behind bird migration. Hence, the main reason why birds migrate is illustrated.

3. II

Answer Location: Paragraph C, Line 2.Explanation: The text clearly indicates that, “Nobody is sure why British swallows don't travel thousands of miles further to their preferred winter habitat in South Africa's Cape Province,despite the fact that they could certainly make it through the winter in equatorial Africa. The huge migrations performed by shorebirds that breed close to the poles and arctic terns that hunt on mudflats are still unresolved. In general, migrating species spend their winters farther south the further north they breed.” Thus, the Line means unexplained rejection of closer feeding ground.

4. X

Answer Location: Paragraph D, Line 1.Explanation: The first line of the paragraph, “One of the biggest mysteries is how young birds, who don't have parental supervision, can find the typical wintering locations.Fewer people travel with young children, and occasionally kids don't even know what their parents seem like” depicts the information of mysterious migration despite lack of teaching.

5. VII

Answer Location: Paragraph E, Line 1.Explanation: It is illustrated in the paragraph first line that, “There is growing proof that birds utilise the sun and stars' positions as compass directions. Additionally, they appear to be able to sense the earth's magnetic field, which is possibly because their brains contain tiny magnetite crystals”. As here it is stated about research findings on how birds migrate.

6. I

Answer Location: Paragraph F, Line 5.Explanation: It is clearly mentioned in the paragraph, “Birds frequently respond to weather fluctuations before there is any outward evidence of them. Lapwings, which consume grassland, travel from the Netherlands to the British Isles, France, and Spain as a cold front approaches”. Therefore, it is the best time to migrate.

7. VIII

Answer Location: Paragraph G, Line 8.Explanation: In the paragraph it is stated that, “On the other hand, every autumn, a few North American birds are carried across the Atlantic by swift westerly tailwinds. They certainly make it to Europe without incident, however there is compelling evidence that some of them return to North America the following spring, having likely spent the winter with migrants from Europe in warm climates in Africa.” Despite the difficulties caused by the wind, it demonstrated the effective bird migration.

8. A

Answer Location: Paragraph C, Line 1.Explanation: It is illustrated in the text that, “Many birds go farther than would be necessary only to locate food and favourable weather, which is a curious reality.” On this account, A is the correct answer, Birds frequently fly farther than necessary.

9. C

Answer Location: Paragraph E, Last Line.Explanation: The passage's phrases paint a vivid picture that, “Additionally, the air is often calmer and cooler at night, which is perfect for stable, long-distance flight.” As nighttime bird flying requires less water.

10. Parental guidance

Answer Location:Paragraph D, Line 1.Explanation: The passage's phrases,“One of the biggest mysteries is how young birds, who don't have parental guidance, can find the typical wintering locations”. Thus, a huge enigma for juvenile birds like cuckoos can locate their wintering sites is without Parental guidance.

11. Compass

Answer Location: Paragraph E, Line 1.Explanation: The sentence reveals the information that, “There is growing proof that birds utilise the sun and stars' positions as compass directions.” Therefore, the answer is that by looking at the sun and stars birds can determine directions like a compass. There is proof for this.

12. Predators

Answer Location: Paragraph E, Second Last Line.Explanation: According to the paragraph one benefit of nighttime flying for birds is stated, that is, “Predators who hunt during the daylight hours are avoided, and there is less of the probability of being dehydrated from extended flight under hot, sunny sky.”

13. Visible

Answer Location: Paragraph F, Line 5.Explanation: As per the paragraph, “Birds frequently respond to weather fluctuations before there is any visible sign of them”. According to laboratory testing, birds can sense weather without the visible cues.

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• Read the instructions carefully: Before you start, make sure you understand what you need to match. Sometimes, you will be asked to match headings to paragraphs or statements to sections, so be clear on the task.
• Skim the passage: Quickly read through the passage to get a general sense of the content and layout. This will help you identify where the information you need might be located.
• Use keywords: Look for keywords or key phrases in the question and the passage. These words are often repeated or paraphrased in the text and can guide you to the correct answer.
• Underline or highlight: As you find information that matches the question, underline or highlight it in the passage. This will make it easier to refer back to when answering the questions.
• Check for synonyms: Be aware of synonyms and paraphrases. Sometimes, the exact words from the question may not appear in the passage, but similar words or phrases will. Keep an eye out for these.

You can also refer to our complete guide on Fatal Attraction IELTS Reading Answers to practice another IELTS Reading passage with accurate solutions and detailed explanations.

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