M
API Matrix

Movebank API

Animals / No Auth Required Beginner HTTPS CORS
Free to Use Varies (check documentation)
92 Score
Grade A+
Visit Official Site Compare Alternatives

Overview

Movebank is a global database of animal movement and migration tracking data collected by GPS tags and sensors attached to wild animals worldwide. Researchers and students use it to explore migratory routes, habitat use, and behavioral patterns of birds, mammals, fish, and insects. Access is free but downloading GPS event data from some studies requires creating a Movebank account and accepting a data-use agreement.

💡

Beginner Tip

Start by querying the public study list without authentication to browse available tracking studies, then use a found study ID to download actual GPS location data.

Available Data

Movebank data via REST API
JSON-formatted response data
Freely accessible without authentication

Example Response

JSON Response 
{
  "name": "Movebank",
  "data": "Movebank-specific information and attributes",
  "source": "Movebank"
}

Field Reference

id Unique study identifier used in subsequent event and animal data queries.
name Human-readable name of the tracking study.
principal_investigator_name Name of the lead researcher responsible for the study.
taxon_ids List of species taxon IDs of animals tracked in the study.
number_of_events Total GPS or sensor data points recorded across the entire study.

Implementation Example 

const url = "https://github.com/movebank/movebank-api-doc";
const response = await fetch(url);
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data);

What Can You Build?

Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.

Common Errors & Troubleshooting

401 Unauthorized Some studies restrict data access and require valid Movebank credentials
✓ Register at movebank.org, log in, accept the study data-use agreement, then include your username and password in the request
Empty result set The study ID does not exist or has no publicly shared data
✓ Query the /study entity first to discover valid study IDs before requesting event data
Timeout on large response Requesting all GPS events for a long-term study without date range filters
✓ Add timestamp_start and timestamp_end parameters to limit the returned date range

Matrix Score Breakdown

🌐 Reachability 30/30
⚡ Speed 20/20
🔒 Security 15/15
🛠 Developer XP 20/20
✓ Reliability 7/15
Response Time 50ms

Fully tested on Apr 5, 2026

Technical Specifications

Auth No Auth
HTTPS REQUIRED
CORS YES
Category Animals
Difficulty Beginner
Verified: 2026-04-04

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