Flexible navigation response in common cuckoos Cuculus canorus displaced experimentally during migration

Mikkel Willemoes; Julio Blas; Martin Wikelski; Kasper Thorup

doi:10.1038/srep16402

Flexible navigation response in common cuckoos Cuculus canorus displaced experimentally during migration

Mikkel Willemoes^*, Julio Blas, Martin Wikelski, Kasper Thorup

^*Corresponding author for this work

21 Citations (Scopus)

187 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Migrating birds follow innate species-specific migration programs capable of guiding them along complex spatio-temporal routes, which may include several separate staging areas. Indeed, migration routes of common cuckoos Cuculus canorus show little variation between individuals; yet, satellite tracks of 11 experimentally displaced adults revealed an unexpected flexibility in individual navigation responses. The birds compensated for the translocation to unfamiliar areas by travelling toward population-specific staging areas, demonstrating true navigation capabilities. Individual responses varied from travelling toward the first stopover in northern Europe to flying toward the Central-African winter grounds, the latter including several stopovers in unfamiliar areas. Apparently, the cuckoos possess spatial knowledge far beyond their population-specific flyway scale, and make individual decisions likely based on an assessment of perceived gain and cost of alternative route options.

Original language	English
Article number	16402
Journal	Scientific Reports
Volume	5
Number of pages	5
ISSN	2045-2322
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/srep16402
Publication status	Published - 2015

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title = "Flexible navigation response in common cuckoos Cuculus canorus displaced experimentally during migration",

abstract = "Migrating birds follow innate species-specific migration programs capable of guiding them along complex spatio-temporal routes, which may include several separate staging areas. Indeed, migration routes of common cuckoos Cuculus canorus show little variation between individuals; yet, satellite tracks of 11 experimentally displaced adults revealed an unexpected flexibility in individual navigation responses. The birds compensated for the translocation to unfamiliar areas by travelling toward population-specific staging areas, demonstrating true navigation capabilities. Individual responses varied from travelling toward the first stopover in northern Europe to flying toward the Central-African winter grounds, the latter including several stopovers in unfamiliar areas. Apparently, the cuckoos possess spatial knowledge far beyond their population-specific flyway scale, and make individual decisions likely based on an assessment of perceived gain and cost of alternative route options.",

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year = "2015",

doi = "10.1038/srep16402",

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T1 - Flexible navigation response in common cuckoos Cuculus canorus displaced experimentally during migration

AU - Willemoes, Mikkel

AU - Blas, Julio

AU - Wikelski, Martin

AU - Thorup, Kasper

PY - 2015

Y1 - 2015

N2 - Migrating birds follow innate species-specific migration programs capable of guiding them along complex spatio-temporal routes, which may include several separate staging areas. Indeed, migration routes of common cuckoos Cuculus canorus show little variation between individuals; yet, satellite tracks of 11 experimentally displaced adults revealed an unexpected flexibility in individual navigation responses. The birds compensated for the translocation to unfamiliar areas by travelling toward population-specific staging areas, demonstrating true navigation capabilities. Individual responses varied from travelling toward the first stopover in northern Europe to flying toward the Central-African winter grounds, the latter including several stopovers in unfamiliar areas. Apparently, the cuckoos possess spatial knowledge far beyond their population-specific flyway scale, and make individual decisions likely based on an assessment of perceived gain and cost of alternative route options.

AB - Migrating birds follow innate species-specific migration programs capable of guiding them along complex spatio-temporal routes, which may include several separate staging areas. Indeed, migration routes of common cuckoos Cuculus canorus show little variation between individuals; yet, satellite tracks of 11 experimentally displaced adults revealed an unexpected flexibility in individual navigation responses. The birds compensated for the translocation to unfamiliar areas by travelling toward population-specific staging areas, demonstrating true navigation capabilities. Individual responses varied from travelling toward the first stopover in northern Europe to flying toward the Central-African winter grounds, the latter including several stopovers in unfamiliar areas. Apparently, the cuckoos possess spatial knowledge far beyond their population-specific flyway scale, and make individual decisions likely based on an assessment of perceived gain and cost of alternative route options.

U2 - 10.1038/srep16402

DO - 10.1038/srep16402

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 26549318

AN - SCOPUS:84946866321

SN - 2045-2322

VL - 5

JO - Scientific Reports

JF - Scientific Reports

M1 - 16402

ER -

Flexible navigation response in common cuckoos Cuculus canorus displaced experimentally during migration

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