How do birds know which way to fly when they migrate?

Answer 1

They actually use a combination of things to find their way...instinct, using the magnetic poles of the earth and the stars to navigate, and some of it is learned (as far as birds that flock together to migrate) I don't really believe they use smell since birds have a very poorly developed sense of smell...only a very few species can actually smell.

Answer 2

This was a great site. It gives thorough information about birds AND butterflies. Thought it was very informative...I thought I knew all about migration through Biology 102, but this site puts what I knew myself to shame. Enjoy!!


http://whyfiles.org/006migration/bird_strategy.html

Navigation
How do birds find their way? Simple. Through a combination of

* Sighting (they don't call it a "bird's eye view" for nothing) features like rivers, coastlines, and mountain ranges.
* Monitoring Earth's magnetic field, apparently with their visual system and with tiny grains of a mineral called magnetite in their heads
* Observing the stars
* Using the sun for guidance
* Smell
* And probably following their neighbors (many birds migrate in large flocks)

Answer 3

because of the fact the upwash is produced off a chook’s wing education, it ought to look useful for birds to fly shoulder-to-shoulder like the offensive line of a soccer team. yet, in accordance to the technology article, this sort of formation could stress the birds on the exterior of the formation to artwork so plenty greater reliable than those flanked via birds on the two components. those with associates at the two wing education could savor two times the carry of those on the tip of the line. The V formation ensures that some birds don’t finally end up finding like bodybuilders on an identical time as others cruise alongside of their wake. Researchers got here upon that a flock of 25 birds in formation can fly 70 p.c. farther than a single chook using the comparable volume of capability.

Answer 4

It's instinct. For instance, the adult hummingbirds migrate before the young ones, but they know where to go.

Answer 5

I think it's pretty simple. God gives them the built in instinct to know, just as they know how to beg for food after they hatch or know when it's time to learn to fly, and the mother birds know when it's time to push them out of the nest .
Be blessed.

Answer 6

If I remember right, they have the ability to detect magnetic fields, and use them to navigate - but you might want to look it up on a natural history site- I would but I'm just too dang tired!
Good question, good luck!

Answer 7

Instinct, they follow their nose! Animals were designed with such amazing qualities. When the sunami was about to happen the animals fled to the mountains instinctively. That is awesome!

Answer 8

Part is the Earth's magnetic field. The other part is instinct.

Answer 9

Natural instinct. That and their parents have shown them the way when they were young.

Answer 10

Instinct, pure and simple.