Migrating animals are found in all major branches of the animal kingdom. They include taxa as diverse as fish, crustaceans, amphibians, reptiles, insects, mammals and slime moulds (Bowlin et al. 2010). The distance covered during some of the journeys, and the altitude at which they can take place, are simply astonishing (Table 1). Let’s take a closer look at the migrations undertaken by a bird, an insect and a mammal.