Do birds have a sense of North?

Question

Since birds have such extraordinary abilities of navigation, is it a sense like we have for balance that is extended to the point that they can tell which way is North, South, East, West? How do they navigate to the same nesting grounds over such long distances over and over?

Answer 1

I recently watched a video that dealt specifically with migration. It detailed how birds use a variety of ways to navigate. And yes, some/most of them CAN sense the North pole magnetic influence. They also use the stars and follow river beds as if they were highways. From high in the air, they can spot landmarks and especially large lakes. Some birds migrate thousands of miles and return to the area where they were born. Amazing isn't it?! Too bad us humans don't have the same skills, I have known some who got lost in a shopping mall.

Answer 2

It is based on a unique biochemistry that incorporates ferromagnetic material (magnetite) within them and utilizes their orientation to govern its spatial movement (horizontal and vertical). Outside of migration behavior, other examples (http://my.execpc.com/~rhoadley/magbio.htm) of orientation behavior due to magnetite, occur across the animal kingdom: honey bees, homing pigeons, sharks, dolphins, newt, rainbow trout, salmon. Even certain bacteria e.g. Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense (http://www.terradaily.com/news/earth-magnetic-05k.html) exhibit this. Researchers found stable needle-like strands of magnetite crystal (magnetic dipoles) in these bacteria.

Answer 3

I truly do not know. I would think so though. Because you have to know north to know south right? Like you have to know happy to have sad.

Answer 4

yes, they use the magnetic poles to navigate.