A new study published today in the journal Conservation Biology has found that songbirds modify their migration patterns when migrating through the vast agricultural landscape of the Midwest known as the "Corn Belt" in similar ways when crossing natural barriers like the Gulf of Mexico.

The research team analyzed five years of weather radar data from 47 stations across the eastern United States to examine how birds modify their migration patterns when crossing the Corn Belt compared to more forested landscapes. They found that birds 

fly faster and are more selective about flying with favorable tailwinds when crossing the Corn Belt—a vast agricultural region where more than 76% of the original forests and grasslands have been converted primarily to cornfields since the 1850s.

"Birds are showing clear behavioral changes when crossing this agricultural landscape compared to more forested landscapes," said lead author Fengyi Guo, a postdoctoral researcher at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "They increase their powered flight speed and carefully adjust their flight time and height to take advantage of tailwinds, much like they do when crossing natural barriers like the Gulf of Mexico." 

However, unlike the trans-Gulf migration where birds must make a non-stop flight, the Corn Belt's scattered forest patches appear to serve as important "stepping stones" where birds can stop to rest and refuel.

“For those birds that do not cross the Corn Belt in a single flight, the radar pattern also shows that they are more likely to make stops in areas with more forest cover within the Corn Belt,” said Guo.

While not as formidable as crossing the Gulf of Mexico, this research shows that human changes to the landscape can alter migratory behavior. "What makes the Corn Belt a somewhat easier barrier to cross is its narrower width, the presence of forest fragments throughout the agricultural matrix, and the fact that birds can land if needed," explained Guo. "Still, we found that birds tend to concentrate in areas with more forest cover within the Corn Belt, highlighting how important these remaining woodlands are for migrating birds."

The researchers recommend protecting existing forest patches and restoring additional forest "stepping stones" within the Corn Belt to help birds successfully navigate this agricultural landscape. They also emphasize the importance of preserving woodlands along the Gulf Coast where birds make the first landfall after crossing that natural barrier.

“Migratory birds need plenty of places to rest and refuel during their long journeys,” says co-author David Wilcove, a professor of Public and International Affairs and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.  Our work shows the importance of protecting and restoring stopover habitats for migrating songbirds along the Gulf Coast and within the Midwest Corn Belt. With a little effort, we can help billions of birds get back home safely every year.”

Media Contact: Kathi Borgmann, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, (607) 254-2137, [email protected]

This press release was originally published in the Cornell Chronicle.  The study, “Assessing the Corn Belt as an anthropogenic barrier to migrating landbirds in the United States,” was published on May 27th, 2025 in Conservation Biology.  The co-authors include F. Guo (Cornell University), J. J. Buler (University of Delaware), A. M. Dokter (Cornell Univeristy), K. G. Horton  (Colorado State University), E. B. Cohen (University of Maryland, Frostburg), D. Sheldon (University of Massachusetts Amherst), J. A. Smolinksy (Wetland and Aquatic Research Center), and D. S. Wilcove (Princeton University).