How do birds find their way?

Answer 1

This is one of the most debated questions amoung scientists.

Some people believe that they do it my the magnetic polarity. Others say by instinct, landmarks and such.

Pigeons have been observed, when on a route to say, from Helena Montana to Albany, New York, making loops and circles. This leads me, personally, to believe that they find their way to their destination by magnetic polarity.

Answer 2

Birds navigate during migration using a variety of methods.

For diurnal migrants the sun is used to navigate by, at night a stellar compass is used instead. Birds that use the sun compensate for the changing position of the sun during the day, by the use of an internal clock.

Orientation with the stellar compass depends on the position of the constellations surrounding Polaris. These are backed up in some species with the ability to sense the Earth's geomagnetism through specialised sensitive photoreceptors.[

Answer 3

There are a couple of theories on that. First, birds are very visual aimals with relatively high intelligence, so chances are good that they can navigate somewhat by sight (at leat knowing if they're way off base by noting mountains, bodies of water, etc.) Another theory is that they are able to navigate based on the position of the sun in the sky and the amount of light present- birds have relatively thin skulls and there is a part of their brian that acts almost like a 3rd eye, able to "see" the light of the sun.
A third theory is that they are able to navigate using the magnetic fields of the planet, again, "seen" by a part of their brain that we don't share. Personally, I think it is lkely a combination of these factors. Birds (other than some beutos) don't have a particularly stron sens of smell, so it is more likely a combination of their eyesight and their brain's ability to "see" light and sense the earth's fields.

Answer 4

One of the most popular hypotheses is that they have a form of super microscopic iron oxide crystal in their auditory process which is magnetized so that it always points north. This allows them a reference point for their travels, just like a compass.
It would be similar to the way we have liquid in out inner ear which moves to tell us when we are no longer upright, and therefore gives us our sense of balance.

Answer 5

The friends I have the race pidgeons believe that it has something to do with the magnetic fields of the Earth. They also believe that this is why they race them south to north (like Oklahoma to Nebraska) instead of east to west or west to east. They just don't go as fast that way.

Answer 6

Somehow birds have an ''inner radar'' that can find roads in the sky. Its really amazing, but no one really understands how those radars &roads work.

Answer 7

They have little maps in their glove compartments.

Answer 8

Because when you treat him well it will go back

Answer 9

no clue