Testing cognitive navigation in unknown territories: homing pigeons choose different targets

Area of Science:

• Animal behavior
• Neuroethology
• Navigation

Background:

• Homing pigeons (Columba livia) are thought to use a map-and-compass strategy for navigation.
• Previous studies lacked clear evidence of cognitive map use in free-flight experiments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if homing pigeons utilize a cognitive map representing their position, home loft, and a food loft simultaneously.
• To determine if pigeons adjust flight based on internal needs (hunger) and spatial knowledge.

Main Methods:

• 131 homing pigeons were trained to a food loft 25-30 km away.
• Pigeons were released from an unfamiliar site equidistant from home and food lofts.
• Vanishing bearings, homing times, and GPS flight tracks were recorded for hungry and satiated birds.

Main Results:

• Hungry and satiated pigeons showed significantly different vanishing bearings.
• A high proportion of hungry pigeons flew towards the food loft, while satiated pigeons headed home.
• GPS data revealed precise flight paths and course corrections, indicating spatial awareness.

Conclusions:

• Homing pigeons demonstrate the use of a cognitive navigational map.
• Navigation is goal-directed, influenced by both spatial knowledge and internal motivational states.
• Pigeons possess a mental representation of their environment, allowing flexible route selection.