Abstract
In order to investigate the pigeon's compass mechanism, a series of overcast tests with clock-shifted birds were run at two familiar release sites. While controls were able to assume a correct homeward direction, the experimental birds' initial orientation cannot be explained either on the basis of a time-compensated sun compass or of a time-independent magnetic compass. Speculative explanations of our paradoxical results are attempted.
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Benvenuti, S., Gagliardo, A., Guilford, T. et al. Overcast tests with clock-shifted pigeons. Experientia 52, 608–612 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01969739
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01969739