scholarly journals Night-migratory garden warblers can orient with their magnetic compass using the left, the right or both eyes

2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Maira Hein ◽  
Manuela Zapka ◽  
Dominik Heyers ◽  
Sandra Kutzschbauch ◽  
Nils-Lasse Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Compass ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Orientation Behaviour ◽  
Eyes Open ◽  
Magnetic Compass Orientation ◽  
Migratory Songbird ◽  
Sylvia Borin ◽  
The Right

Several studies have suggested that the magnetic compass of birds is located only in the right eye. However, here we show that night-migrating garden warblers ( Sylvia borin ) are able to perform magnetic compass orientation with both eyes open, with only the left eye open and with only the right eye open. We did not observe any clear lateralization of magnetic compass orientation behaviour in this migratory songbird, and, therefore, it seems that the suggested all-or-none lateralization of magnetic compass orientation towards the right eye only cannot be generalized to all birds, and that the answer to the question of whether magnetic compass orientation in birds is lateralized is probably not as simple as suggested previously.

Lateralisation of magnetic compass orientation in silvereyes, Zosterops lateralis

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 597 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wolfgang Wiltschko ◽  
Ursula Munro ◽  
Hugh Ford ◽  
Roswitha Wiltschko
Keyword(s):  
Geomagnetic Field ◽  
Magnetic Compass ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Directional Information ◽  
Zosterops Lateralis ◽  
Magnetic Compass Orientation ◽  
Directional Preference ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Brain ◽  
The Magnetic Field

The ability of migratory silvereyes to orient was tested in the geomagnetic field with one eye covered. Silvereyes using only their right eye were able to orient in migratory direction just as well as birds using both eyes. Using only their left eye, however, the birds did not show a significant directional preference. These data indicate that directional information from the magnetic field is mediated almost exclusively by the right eye and processed by the left hemisphere of the brain. Together with corresponding findings from European robins and indications for a similar phenomenon in homing pigeons, they suggest that a strong lateralisation of the magnetic compass is widespread among birds.

scholarly journals Lateralization of magnetic compass orientation in pigeons

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiane Wilzeck ◽  
Wolfgang Wiltschko ◽  
Onur Güntürkün ◽  
Roswitha Wiltschko ◽  
Helmut Prior
Keyword(s):  
Operant Chamber ◽  
Magnetic Compass ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Brain Hemisphere ◽  
Brain Hemispheres ◽  
Left Brain ◽  
Right Brain ◽  
Magnetic Compass Orientation ◽  
Operant Task ◽  
The Right

The aim of our study was to test for lateralization of magnetic compass orientation in pigeons. Having shown that pigeons are capable of learning magnetic compass directions in an operant task, we wanted to know whether the brain hemispheres contribute differently and how the lateralization pattern relates to findings in other avian species. Birds that had learnt to locate food in an operant chamber by means of magnetic directions were tested for lateralization of magnetic compass orientation by temporarily covering one eye. Successful orientation occurred under all conditions of viewing. Thus, pigeons can perceive and process magnetic compass directions with the right eye and left brain hemisphere as well as the left eye and right brain hemisphere. However, while the right brain hemisphere tended to confuse the learned direction with its opposite (axial response), the left brain hemisphere specifically preferred the correct direction. Our findings demonstrate bilateral processing of magnetic information, but also suggest qualitative differences in how the left and the right brain deal with magnetic cues.

scholarly journals A magnet attached to the forehead disrupts magnetic compass orientation in a migratory songbird

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Packmor ◽  
Dmitry Kishkinev ◽  
Flora Bittermann ◽  
Barbara Kofler ◽  
Clara Machowetz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Magnetic Compass ◽  
Disruptive Effect ◽  
Free Flight ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Magnetic Compass Orientation ◽  
Orientation Cues ◽  
Migratory Songbird ◽  
Small Bird

For studies on magnetic compass orientation and navigation performance in small bird species, controlled experiments with orientation cages inside an electromagnetic coil system are the most prominent methodological paradigm. These are, however, not applicable when studying larger bird species and/or orientation behaviour during free flight. For this, researchers have followed a very different approach. By attaching small magnets to birds, they intended to deprive them of access to meaningful magnetic information. Unfortunately, results from studies using this approach appear rather inconsistent. As these are based on experiments with birds under free flight conditions, which usually do not allow exclusion of other potential orientation cues, an assessment of the overall efficacy of this approach is difficult to conduct. Here, we directly test the efficacy of small magnets for temporarily disrupting magnetic compass orientation in small migratory songbirds using orientation cages under controlled experimental conditions. We found that birds which have access to the Earth's magnetic field as their sole orientation cue show a general orientation towards their seasonally appropriate migratory direction. When carrying magnets on their forehead under these conditions, the same birds become disoriented. However, under changed conditions that allow birds access to other (i.e. celestial) orientation cues, any disruptive effect of the magnets they carry appears obscured. Our results provide clear evidence for the efficacy of the magnet approach for temporarily disrupting magnetic compass orientation in birds, but also reveal its limitations for application in experiments under free flight conditions.

Auditory and Magnetic Compass Orientation in C57BL/6 mice

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
John B. Phillips ◽  
R. Muheim ◽  
N. M. Edgar ◽  
K. S. Sloan
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Compass ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Magnetic Compass Orientation

scholarly journals Magnetic compass orientation

Nature ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 362 (6422) ◽  
pp. 703-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth J. Lohmann
Keyword(s):  
Magnetic Compass ◽  
Compass Orientation ◽  
Magnetic Compass Orientation
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