Contradictory results on the role of polarized light in compass calibration in migratory songbirds |
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| Authors: | Roswitha Wiltschko Ursula Munro Hugh Ford and Wolfgang Wiltschko |
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| Institution: | (1) Fachbereich Biowissenschaften, J.W.Goethe-Universit?t Frankfurt, Siesmayerstra?e 70, 60054 Frankfurt, Germany;(2) Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Technology, Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, NSW, 2007, Australia;(3) School of Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 2351, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Experiments with migrating birds on the interaction between magnetic and celestial cues have produced heterogeneous results.
A recent study claimed that the magnetic compass in passerine migrants is calibrated by the pattern of polarized light at
sunset and sunrise and that the area just above the horizon is crucial for this calibration. To test the latter hypothesis,
we performed a similar experiment with Australian Silvereyes. It produced contrary results, however, the birds, in spite of
observing the natural polarization pattern at sunrise and sunset down to the horizon in an altered magnetic field, continued
in their normal southerly magnetic direction when subsequently tested in the local geomagnetic field—the conflict between
magnetic and polarized light cues had not caused them to recalibrate their magnetic compass. This contradicts the assumption
that skylight polarization patterns generally serve as a primary calibration reference for migratory songbirds.
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| Keywords: | Magnetic compass Polarized light Conflicting cues Compass calibration Migratory birds |
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