Birds navigate using Earth's magnetic field by detecting its intensity and direction through a mechanism involving radical pairs formed in their eyes. Studies suggest that birds possess three compasses: one based on the sun's position, another on the stars, and a third utilizing Earth's magnetic field, which is light-dependent and highly sensitive to even weak magnetic interactions. This mechanism was first proposed by Klaus Schulten, who theorized that magnetically sensitive chemical transformations, specifically involving radical pairs, could serve as a compass for these birds[2].
Species like the Bar-tailed Godwit and migratory songbirds inherit genetic instructions for migration paths and adjust their routes over time, building a mental map that allows them to travel thousands of kilometers with remarkable precision[2].
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