Homing Instinct of the Red-Winged Blackbird

Abstract

ALTHOUGH it has been known for at least 2500 years that certain species of birds (notably the homing pigeon) possess a strongly developed homing instinct, yet there is still much to learn as to both the mechanism by which this remarkable ability operates and the degree to which it is exhibited in different species. The number of species upon which such experiments have been tried is still small, although it -includes such familiar types as the Cowbird, Barn Swallow, House Martin, and Song Sparrow among the land species, and a number of species of waterbirds. Of all the work of this kind, the classic researches of Watson and Lashley on the Noddies and Sooty Terns of the Tortugas and the more recent studies of Riippell in Germany on the Starling are the most important. The general conclusion to be drawn at present seems to be that while the homing instinct is relatively highly developed in birds, and is probably possessed to at least some degree by all species, yet different species vary greatly in the degree to which they exhibit it. The mechanism by which this ability operates must depend to a large extent on visual recognition of familiar objects when short distances are involved, but for greater distances none of the theories yet proposed offers a satisfactory explanation. The experiments which are reported below were undertaken to test the degree to which the Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus phoeniceus) possesses the ability to return to the locality where first caught. To do this, the birds, after being caught in a house trap or funnel trap on the University Farm, were taken in covered containers to a number of points at varying distances and directions from Syracuse. Transportation was by automobile. In a number of cases liberation was at night, and in all cases it was rather late in the day. The table below presents a summary of the work done. The results show clearly that the Red-winged Blackbird possesses a highly developed homing instinct, although it is exhibited less strongly than by certain other common species. As the table shows, some birds returned from each of the places where they were liberated, but in most cases the proportion which returned was not high