Summary
Animals use landmarks, the sun, stars, magnetic fields and smell to find their way.
In depth
Path integration (dead reckoning) in desert ants, magnetoreception via cryptochromes or magnetite, celestial cues and olfactory maps in seabirds and salmon.
Different mechanisms combine: compass senses give direction, map senses locate position. Experiments displacing animals show whether they use true navigation or simple compass orientation.
Example: homing pigeons with magnets attached navigate poorly under overcast skies.
Navigation lets animals find their way across short and global distances. Simple methods include piloting by landmarks, path integration (dead reckoning), and following odour or sound gradients. Long-distance travellers use compasses based on the sun, star patterns, polarised light and the Earth's magnetic field.
Magnetoreception may involve iron-containing cells or light-sensitive cryptochrome proteins. Homing pigeons, sea turtles, salmon and desert ants show different mixtures of these cues. Some animals also build a cognitive map.
Example: Cataglyphis desert ants count steps and track the sun to return straight to the nest.
Key idea: animals combine multiple cues and fall back on others when one fails.
Frequently asked questions
What is Animal Navigation?
Animals use landmarks, the sun, stars, magnetic fields and smell to find their way.
Which area of biology covers Animal Navigation, and how advanced is it?
Animal Navigation is one of the 53 topics in Animal Behaviour. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Migration Behaviour, Animal Cognition Experiments, Imprinting.
Can you give an example of Animal Navigation?
Sea turtles return to natal beaches using geomagnetic imprinting.
What should I learn before Animal Navigation?
Work through the Beginner topics in Animal Behaviour first, such as Animal Behaviour, Innate Behaviour, Learned Behaviour, then return to Animal Navigation. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
What topics are related to Animal Navigation?
The closest topics to Animal Navigation are Migration Behaviour, Animal Cognition Experiments, Imprinting, Social Learning and Culture. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Animal Navigation?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Animal Navigation. To practise the whole of Animal Behaviour, use the Animal Behaviour quiz.
How is Animal Navigation different from Migration Behaviour?
Animal Navigation: Animals use landmarks, the sun, stars, magnetic fields and smell to find their way. Migration Behaviour: Regular seasonal journeys, such as monarch butterflies and Arctic terns. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Animal Navigation step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Migration Behaviour and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Animal Behaviour quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.