The way home: Arctic peregrine falcons and the evolution of long-distance migration

Arctic peregrine falcons undertake remarkable long-distance migrations each year, crossing thousands of kilometers to reach their wintering grounds. Yet, how these migration routes form, maintain, and evolve under climate change remains unclear. Here we present an integrative study combining satellite tracking and population genomics across six Arctic populations. We discovered five major flyways, shaped by past glacial shifts and maintained today by environmental boundaries and genetic adaptation. A key gene, ADCY8, associated with long-term memory, appears to influence migratory distance, suggesting that long-term memory may play a vital role in these epic journeys. Functional assays support its regulatory role in the bird brain. We also used climate models to predict future changes and found that global warming may shorten migration routes or even abolish migration in some populations. These findings highlight the intricate links between climate, memory, and migration, and underscore the conservation challenges Arctic species facing in a rapidly changing world.