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Science 16 October 1981:
Vol. 214. no. 4518, pp. 343 - 345
DOI: 10.1126/science.7280697
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Articles

Science, Vol 214, Issue 4518, 343-345
Copyright © 1981 by American Association for the Advancement of Science

articles

Pigeons with a deficient sun compass use the magnetic compass

R Wiltschko, D Nohr, and W Wiltschko

Homing pigeons that had never seen the sun before noon could not use the sun compass in the morning; nevertheless they were homeward oriented. When such birds carried magnets, however, they were disoriented, suggesting they were using a magnetic compass. These findings indicate that the magnetic compass is available to pigeons whether or not the sun compass has been established and that the magnetic compass is apparently the first source of compass information.


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