Pigeon homing: sun compass use in the southern hemisphere

Wiltschko, Roswitha; Haugh, Cordula V.; Walker, Michael M.; Wiltschko, Wolfgang

doi:10.1007/s002650050494

Cited by 13 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…It is worth noting that pigeons relying on their magnetic compass alone would have produced vanishing bearings similar to those recorded for our experimental birds. However, all experiments were carried out in sunny conditions, which would lead the pigeons to use their sun compass, as shown by a large batch of empirical data (SCHMIDT-KOENIG 1961, CHAPPELL & GUILFORD 1995, WILTSCHKO et al 1998, WALLRAFF et al 1999). The capacity for a chronometric compensation of the apparent movement of the sun seems to rely on different mechanisms in homing pigeons and sandhoppers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The chronometric mechanism of the sun compass in homing pigeons is independent of the length of the light phase

Gagliardo

Benvenuti

Ugolini

2004

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The chronometric mechanism of the sun compass in homing pigeons is independent of the length of the light phase

Gagliardo

Benvenuti

Ugolini

2004

Ethology Ecology & Evolution

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“…Once individuals recognize that their compass is shifted, they resynchronize their sun compass and internal clock. Such synchronization occurs naturally when birds travel to different locations (Schmidt-Koenig, 1958;Wiltschko et al, 1998). Yet in some cases, following the sun compass without updating it can be advantageous.…”

Section: Solar Compassmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Cognitive Ecology of Animal Movement: Evidence From Birds and Mammals

2021

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Cognition, defined as the processes concerned with the acquisition, retention and use of information, underlies animals’ abilities to navigate their local surroundings, embark on long-distance seasonal migrations, and socially learn information relevant to movement. Hence, in order to fully understand and predict animal movement, researchers must know the cognitive mechanisms that generate such movement. Work on a few model systems indicates that most animals possess excellent spatial learning and memory abilities, meaning that they can acquire and later recall information about distances and directions among relevant objects. Similarly, field work on several species has revealed some of the mechanisms that enable them to navigate over distances of up to several thousand kilometers. Key behaviors related to movement such as the choice of nest location, home range location and migration route are often affected by parents and other conspecifics. In some species, such social influence leads to the formation of aggregations, which in turn may lead to further social learning about food locations or other resources. Throughout the review, we note a variety of topics at the interface of cognition and movement that invite further investigation. These include the use of social information embedded in trails, the likely important roles of soundscapes and smellscapes, the mechanisms that large mammals rely on for long-distance migration, and the effects of expertise acquired over extended periods.

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“…To date, the primary biophysical process underlying the avian compass still remains unknown. Scientists found that many sources of directional information can contribute to birds' navigation, such as landmarks or topographic features [58,59], stars [60][61][62][63][64], the sun [65][66][67], and so on. Among these sources and hypotheses, magnetite as well as biochemical radical-pair reactions has been hypothesized to mediate sensitivity to Earthstrength magnetic fields through fundamentally different physical mechanisms [68,69].…”

Section: Chemical Compass In Birds 21 Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…the sun [65][66][67], and so on. Among these sources and hypotheses, magnetite as well as biochemical radical-pair reactions has been hypothesized to mediate sensitivity to Earthstrength magnetic fields through fundamentally different physical mechanisms [68,69].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%