How Do Birds Navigate During Migration
Bird migration is one of the most spectacular events in the natural world. Many birds travel between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres each year. They follow food supplies and favorable temperatures. But how do these seasonal migrants find their way?
The Basics of Bird Migration
Birds from various species seem to be born with a genetic sense of direction. Many young birds make their first migration without their parents. As they gain experience, they learn to navigate using various methods:
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Landmarks: Birds flying over land often use familiar features like rivers and mountains.
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Smell: Some seabirds can navigate by following scents.
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Stars: Birds also use the stars for navigation at night.
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Sun: The rising and setting sun provides essential cues.
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Earth’s Magnetic Field: Birds can sense the Earth’s magnetic field, helping them find their way.
Navigating by Landmarks
When flying over land, birds look for familiar landmarks. Day-migrating birds scan for features like rivers and mountain ranges. Night-migrating birds can adjust their course by referencing these landmarks, too.
The Role of Smell
What about birds that fly over the ocean? Seabirds can travel long distances without landmarks. In a 2017 study, scientists found that seabirds like Scopoli’s Shearwaters rely on their sense of smell. Birds that had their sense of smell disrupted became lost at sea.
Using the Stars for Navigation
In the 1960s, scientists John and Stephen Emlen studied how birds use stars. They placed birds in cages with ink pads and paper funnels. When they changed the stars in a planetarium, the birds adjusted their flight paths. This showed that birds can orient themselves using stars.
The Sun as a Compass
Birds also use the sun as a compass. Studies show that birds track the sun’s position throughout the day. For example, a 2001 study followed shorebirds migrating south and found they used a “sun compass” to adjust their direction.
Sensing Earth’s Magnetic Field
Birds have a unique ability: they can sense the Earth’s magnetic field. Experiments from the 1960s showed that birds change direction based on magnetic field changes. Some researchers believe tiny particles of magnetite in birds’ bills help them navigate. However, other studies suggest that proteins in birds’ eyes, called cryptochromes, may play a role.
The Need for Conservation
Bird migration is a remarkable journey. Sadly, in the last 50 years, we have lost almost 3 billion birds in the U.S. and Canada due to habitat loss and other threats.
What can you do to help?
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Advocate for bird conservation.
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Donate to organizations that protect birds.
About the Author
Rebecca Heisman is a science writer based in eastern Washington. Her upcoming book explores bird migration.
For more on birds and birdwatching, check out our full coverage.
MD Imdadul Haque is the founder of BirdzFly, a research-backed resource on North American backyard birds. Drawing on years of independent study into bird identification, behavior, and migration patterns, he writes in-depth guides designed to help US birders understand the species in their own backyards — from common feeder visitors to seasonal migrants passing through.
