A hierarchy of compass systems in migratory songbirds

Brief info

model species

Garden warbler
Sylvia borin

Pied flycatcher
Ficedula hypoleuca

European robin
Erithacus rubecula

Project PI

Dr Nikita Chernetsov
Dr Alexander Pakhomov

Collaborators

Background and Knowledge gap

Migratory birds are able to use information for orientation from different cue sources: the geomagnetic field, the sun and the stellar cues (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.

Our plans

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

We experimentally demonstrate that many European migratory songbirds do not calibrate their compass systems, instead relying predominantly on a single compass, in contrast to North American migrants—even when they have access to the setting sun near the horizon. This finding contradicts the modified theory of compass hierarchy and calibration strategies in migratory birds. Each species (and possibly even different populations) may choose its calibration strategy differently and exhibit different hierarchies of orientation cues, depending on the geographic and ecological challenges they encounter during migration. For more info, see results of our studies on song thrushes, garden warblers, pied flycatchers and European robins.

Interested in this topic? See our reviews of compass calibration strategies in different songbird migrants – Xiaofeng LIU, Chernetsov N. 2012 and Pakhomov A., & Chernetsov N., 2020.

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