A hierarchy of compass systems in migratory songbirds

Garden warbler, Pied flycatcher, European robin

with Ornithology Lab (PI Nikita Chernetsov).

About project

Project PIs: Alexander Pakhomov, Nikita Chernetsov

Migratory birds are able to use information for orientation from different cue sources: the geomagnetic field, the sun and the stellar sky (magnetic, sun and star compass systems). However, compass information obtained by birds from three compasses can be absent, redundant and/or contradictory, so birds should calibrate their compasses with respect to a common reference system.

In this project, we investigate the interaction between compass systems in different songbird species and determine which compass holds a higher position in the hierarchy of compass systems.

Our discoveries

Our experimental setups

Compass calibration setup

Modified version of Compass calibration setup (CalOri setup)

Key papers:

Pakhomov A, Prokshina A, Cellarius F, Mouritsen H, Chernetsov N, 2022. Access to the sky near the horizon and stars does not play a crucial role in compass calibration of European songbird migrants // Journal of Experimental Biology, 225 (16): jeb243631. doi: 10.1242/jeb.243631

Pakhomov A., & Chernetsov N., 2020. A hierarchy of compass systems in migratory birds // Biological Communications, 65(3), 262–276. doi: 10.21638/spbu03.2020.306

Pakhomov A., Chernetsov N., 2014. Early evening activity of migratory Garden Warbler Sylvia borin: compass calibration activity? // Journal of Ornithology, 155 (3): 621-630. doi: 10.1007/s10336-014-1044-x

Related papers:

Xiaofeng LIU, Chernetsov N. 2012: Avian orientation: multi-cue integration and calibration of compass systems // Avian Research, 3(1): 1-8. DOI: 10.5122/cbirds.2012.0001

Chernetsov N, Kishkinev D, Kosarev V, Bolshakov CV, 2011. Not all songbirds calibrate their magnetic compass from twilight cues: a telemetry study // J Exp Biol 1 August 2011; 214 (15): 2540–2543. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.057729

Funding:

Type: Publication Grant
Funder: Russian Foundation for Basic Research
Date: 2019 – 2020
Project: .A hierarchy of compass systems in migratory birds.
PI: Alexander Pakhomov
Total fund: 4800 €
Type: Research Grant
Funder: Russian Foundation for Basic Research
Date: 2018-2020
Project: Calibration of compass systems in migratory birds
PI: Alexander Pakhomov, Nikita Chernetsov
Total fund: 10000€/year
Type: Research Grant
Funder: Russian Foundation for Basic Research
Date: 2014
Project: Stellar compass in migratory birds
PI: Nikita Chernetsov
Total fund: 5000€
Type: Research Grant
Funder: Russian Foundation for Basic Research
Date: 2012-2014
Project: A hierarchy and calibration of compass systems in migratory birds.
Total fund: 10000€/year