Winged Migration

Winged Migration is a documentary that follows migratory birds across the globe, tracing their seasonal journeys between breeding grounds and warmer regions near the equator. The film observes species such as geese, swans, cranes, ducks and storks as they travel thousands of miles, crossing oceans, deserts and mountain ranges while navigating by instinct and the stars. The birds face storms, predators, hunters, illness and pollution along the way. Though the journeys are undertaken collectively, the flocks separate into family units at their destinations, where courtship, nesting and the raising of young take place before the next departure.

Jacques Perrin directed the film, his first feature behind the camera before Oceans in 2010. He also co-wrote the screenplay with Jean Dorst and Valentine Marvel, produced it with Christophe Barratier, and provides narration, with Philippe Labro narrating the English version. The production involved 139 credited crew members and shooting across seven continents, using cameras mounted on ultralight aircraft, helicopters and balloons to film birds in flight.

Released in December 2001, the film runs 89 minutes and was made with a budget of 160 million USD, earning 32 million USD worldwide. On IMDb it holds 7.9/10 from 13,000 votes, on TMDB 7.6/10 from 211 votes, and it received 8.3/10 from 130 critics' reviews, a stronger critical response than its audience scores suggest.