Shorebirds that breed in the Arctic tundra are more likely to move to a different breeding area each year compared to those in other habitats, according to a new study published in the journal Ecography. The research, led by Bart Kempenaers from the Max Planck Institute for Biological Intelligence, analyzed data from 120 populations of 55 shorebird species across the Northern Hemisphere. The findings reveal that while some shorebirds return to the same breeding spot year after year, others—like pectoral sandpipers and long-billed dowitchers—rarely come back to the same area. The study found that the lower return rates among tundra-breeding birds become more pronounced the farther north they breed. In contrast, in other habitats like forests, grasslands, or deserts, how far north a bird bred had little impact on whether it would return to the same site. Previous research had identified factors like parental duties, sex, and body size as influences on return rates, but the role of geography had not been thoroughly examined. This study highlights that the apparent link between latitude and return rates was mostly due to tundra birds breeding at the highest latitudes and returning less often than their counterparts in other regions. Within the tundra itself, the return rates varied significantly. Near the southern edge of the tundra biome, about half of the birds returned to the same breeding site. However, at the northernmost limits in the high Arctic, only about one in 10 birds came back. In other habitats such as forests, grasslands, and arid regions, roughly two-thirds of the birds returned to their previous breeding sites. The pattern was also observed within individual species: those that bred in both the tundra and other habitats returned less frequently when breeding in the tundra. The findings raise questions about how other unpredictable environments, such as temporary wetlands, might influence bird behavior. Researchers suggest that the ability to relocate might help shorebirds maintain stable populations as their breeding habitats face increasing environmental pressures. Understanding these patterns can help scientists better predict how these birds will respond to future changes in their ecosystems.