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The Sun Compass

  • Chapter
Orientation in Birds

Part of the book series: Experientia Supplementum ((EXS,volume 60))

Summary

The sun compass was discovered by G. Kramer in caged birds showing migratory restlessness. Subsequent experiments with caged birds employing directional training and clock shifts, carried out by Hoffman and Schmidt-Koenig, showed that the sun azimuth is used, and the sun altitude ignored. In the laboratory, McDonald found the accuracy to be ±3° – ±5°. According to Hoffmann and Schmidt-Koenig, caged birds trained at medium northern latitudes were able to allow for the sun’s apparent movement north of the arctic circle, but not in equatorial and trans-equatorial latitudes.

In homing experiments, and employing clock shifts, Schmidt-Koenig demonstrated that the sun compass is used by homing pigeons during initial orientation. This finding is the principal evidence for the existence of a map-and-compass navigational system. Pigeons living in equatorial latitudes utilize the sun compass even under the extreme solar conditions of equinox, achieving angular resolution of about 3° in homing experiments. According to preliminary analyses, the homing pigeons’ ephemerides are retarded by several weeks (Ranvaud, Schmidt-Koenig, Ganzhorn et al.).

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    K. Schmidt-Koenig

  2. Abt. Verhaltensphysiologie, Universität Tübingen, D-7400, Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany

    K. Schmidt-Koenig & J. U. Ganzhorn

  3. Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, USP, Sao Paulo, SP, Brasil

    R. Ranvaud

Authors
  1. K. Schmidt-Koenig
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  2. J. U. Ganzhorn
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  3. R. Ranvaud
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Max Planck Institut für Verhaltensphysiologie, Vogelwarte Radolfzell Schloss Möggingen, D-7760, Radolfzell, Germany

    P. Berthold

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© 1991 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel/Switzerland

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Schmidt-Koenig, K., Ganzhorn, J.U., Ranvaud, R. (1991). The Sun Compass. In: Berthold, P. (eds) Orientation in Birds. Experientia Supplementum, vol 60. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7208-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7208-9_1

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-7210-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-7208-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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