Site fidelity

Ringing data have disclosed that, for example, a pied flycatcher may return to the same garden and the exact same nesting box several years in a row. Adult birds are often faithful to the locations they choose for their own nests. However, young birds seldom build their nests near the places where they were born.

How old can they be?

Recovered rings make it possible to establish the maximum life spans of bird species. Some examples of the oldest known individuals of various species: Guillemot 45 yrs. Golden eagle 32 yrs. Curlew 32 yrs. Swift 21 yrs. Blackbird 17 yrs. Great tit 11 yrs. Willow warbler 8 yrs.