Migratory birds can extract positional information from magnetic inclination and magnetic declination alone

Abstract

Overview

Migratory birds exhibit remarkable long-distance navigation accuracy, employing an assumed two-step mechanism involving a 'map' and a 'compass'.

Findings

• The concept of using magnetic fields in navigation, specifically the map step, is suggested by recent studies and tested using Eurasian reed warblers.
• The study involved a virtual magnetic displacement experiment where birds' exposure to altered magnetic cues did not match their natural migratory patterns.
• Despite the mismatch, birds adjusted their migratory direction, indicating their capacity to integrate positional and directional cues from the Earth's magnetic field.

Conclusion

Further investigations are needed to understand if the total intensity of the magnetic field is also used by birds for navigation.