Possible steps in the evolutionary development of bird navigation

Abstract

Hypotheses are presented to explain the evolutionary development of navigational ability in migratory birds. Areas of discussion to describe the possible techniques are: (1) sun compass, (2) bicoordinate navigation, (3) star compass, (4) wind cues, (5) earth magnetic field, and (6) landscape features. It is concluded that landscape is the single most important cue for orientation of nonmigratory birds. The long range migratory birds appear to use a combination of cues with the relative importance of the cue dependent upon the species of the bird involved.