𝔖 Bobbio Scriptorium
✦   LIBER   ✦

Orientation of homing pigeons: Direct sight of sun not necessary

✍ Scribed by McDonald, Dennis L.

Publisher
John Wiley and Sons
Year
1975
Tongue
English
Weight
471 KB
Volume
191
Category
Article
ISSN
0022-104X

No coin nor oath required. For personal study only.

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Homing pigeons do not need to see the sun directly in order to orient in a Kramer‐type cage. Five homing pigeons were directionally trained in the traditional manner with a clear view of the sky and sun overhead. They were then tested while wearing a sun shade which prevented them from seeing any of the sky out of the top of the cage. All of the birds were able to maintain their orientation. Shadows on the floor of the apparatus may have provided cues. These results suggest a mechanism pigeons may use to obtain information from the sun, that is, by looking at shadows on the ground. Experiments of a similar nature with free‐flying birds are needed.

πŸ“œ SIMILAR VOLUMES

Hippocampal participation in the sun com
Hippocampal participation in the sun compass orientation of phase-shifted homing pigeons
✍ V. P. Bingman; A. Gagliardo; P. IoalΓ© πŸ“‚ Article πŸ“… 1996 πŸ› Springer 🌐 English βš– 756 KB

The orientation of phase-shifted control and hippocampal lesioned homing pigeons with previous homing experience was examined to investigate the possible participation of the hippocampal formation in sun compass orientation. Hippocampal lesioned pigeons displayed appropriate shifts in orientation in