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Mechanisms of Body Alignment in a Diurnal Songbird Migrant

Spiliopoulou, Christina LU ; Bianco, Giuseppe LU orcid ; Ilieva, Mihaela LU and Åkesson, Susanne LU orcid (2026) In Ethology
Abstract

Animals align their body in relation to different environmental cues, including spontaneous directional responses relative to the geomagnetic field known as magnetic body alignment. The biological significance of this behavior, however, remains undetermined for most taxa. In previous studies, migratory songbirds aligned their body with the cardinal directions of the geomagnetic field and their migratory direction at different times of day. To explore the mechanisms of the alignment behavior in songbirds, we studied a diurnal migrant, the dunnock (Prunella modularis) in captivity. We captured juvenile dunnocks at stopover sites during autumn migration and assigned them to three experiments performed under controlled photic and magnetic... (More)

Animals align their body in relation to different environmental cues, including spontaneous directional responses relative to the geomagnetic field known as magnetic body alignment. The biological significance of this behavior, however, remains undetermined for most taxa. In previous studies, migratory songbirds aligned their body with the cardinal directions of the geomagnetic field and their migratory direction at different times of day. To explore the mechanisms of the alignment behavior in songbirds, we studied a diurnal migrant, the dunnock (Prunella modularis) in captivity. We captured juvenile dunnocks at stopover sites during autumn migration and assigned them to three experiments performed under controlled photic and magnetic conditions in cylindrical cages, each fitted with a circular perch enabling birds to select resting positions freely. We repeatedly measured the alignment of individual birds as the directional body orientation during rest, before and after a prolonged period of rest at sunset and sunrise on each experimental night. Several alternative orientation cues were considered to investigate the alignment of the population. Our results revealed that individuals performed angular body alignment with high consistency; however, a preferred direction was not expressed on a population level. Furthermore, the alignment position of each individual was retained throughout the resting period. These findings support the prediction that body alignment is individually selected and may be involved in compass calibration.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
animal navigation, body orientation, compass calibration, fixed alignment, individual consistency, magnetic sense
in
Ethology
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:105033541762
ISSN
0179-1613
DOI
10.1111/eth.70063
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2026 The Author(s). Ethology published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
id
e7283abf-43b6-4f5f-8169-82d1dc3f2d16
date added to LUP
2026-04-13 13:22:41
date last changed
2026-04-17 14:14:55
@article{e7283abf-43b6-4f5f-8169-82d1dc3f2d16,
  abstract     = {{<p>Animals align their body in relation to different environmental cues, including spontaneous directional responses relative to the geomagnetic field known as magnetic body alignment. The biological significance of this behavior, however, remains undetermined for most taxa. In previous studies, migratory songbirds aligned their body with the cardinal directions of the geomagnetic field and their migratory direction at different times of day. To explore the mechanisms of the alignment behavior in songbirds, we studied a diurnal migrant, the dunnock (Prunella modularis) in captivity. We captured juvenile dunnocks at stopover sites during autumn migration and assigned them to three experiments performed under controlled photic and magnetic conditions in cylindrical cages, each fitted with a circular perch enabling birds to select resting positions freely. We repeatedly measured the alignment of individual birds as the directional body orientation during rest, before and after a prolonged period of rest at sunset and sunrise on each experimental night. Several alternative orientation cues were considered to investigate the alignment of the population. Our results revealed that individuals performed angular body alignment with high consistency; however, a preferred direction was not expressed on a population level. Furthermore, the alignment position of each individual was retained throughout the resting period. These findings support the prediction that body alignment is individually selected and may be involved in compass calibration.</p>}},
  author       = {{Spiliopoulou, Christina and Bianco, Giuseppe and Ilieva, Mihaela and Åkesson, Susanne}},
  issn         = {{0179-1613}},
  keywords     = {{animal navigation; body orientation; compass calibration; fixed alignment; individual consistency; magnetic sense}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Ethology}},
  title        = {{Mechanisms of Body Alignment in a Diurnal Songbird Migrant}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eth.70063}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/eth.70063}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}