Further Analysis of the Magnetic Compass of Migratory Birds (original) (raw)

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Abstract

The orientation behavior of migratory European Robins (Erithacus rubecula) during Zugunruhe was used for a further analysis of the characteristics of the birds’ magnetic compass. Tests with Robins adapted to field intensities outside the normal functional range of the magnetic compass show that the process of adaptation to fields outside this range is neither a shifting nor a simple enlargement of the functional range. Tests in several 1-Hz alternating magnetic fields with rectangular and sine-shaped impulses indicate that a certain constant portion of the impulse is necessary to enable the birds to use it for orientation.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Fachbereich Biologie der Universität, 6000, Frankfurt, Federal Republic of Germany
   Wolfgang Wiltschko

Authors

1. Wolfgang Wiltschko
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Editors and Affiliations

1. Abt. für Verhaltensphysiologie der Universität Beim Kupferhammer 8, 7400, Tübingen, Federal Republic of Germany
   Klaus Schmidt-Koenig
2. Dept. of Zoology, Duke University, Durham, N.C., 27706, USA
   Klaus Schmidt-Koenig
3. Sect, of Neurobiology and Behavior Langmuir Lab., Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., 14853, USA
   William T. Keeton

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© 1978 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Wiltschko, W. (1978). Further Analysis of the Magnetic Compass of Migratory Birds. In: Schmidt-Koenig, K., Keeton, W.T. (eds) Animal Migration, Navigation, and Homing. Proceedings in Life Sciences. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-11147-5\_29

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• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-11147-5\_29
• Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
• Print ISBN: 978-3-662-11148-2
• Online ISBN: 978-3-662-11147-5
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