Summary
Of 12 homing pigeons tested, four could be trained to discriminate between a linearly polarized light source with a rotating axis of polarization and the same light source with a stationary axis of polarization. Initially, all 12 pigeons were trained to discriminate between rotating and nonrotating crosshairs. The crosshairs were gradually faded until only polarized light remained. The response was a classically conditioned increase in heart rate. An additional control series was performed using neutral density filters. This is the first evidence for polarized light detection in birds.
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We thank Drs. K. Adler, J. Hatch, and T. Waterman for reading and criticizing an early draft of this paper. This work was supported by an NSF Graduate Fellowship to M. Kreithen, a grant from the Cornell Office of Sponsored Research, and NSF Research Grants GB 13046X and GB 35199X to W. T. Keeton.
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Kreithen, M.L., Keeton, W.T. Detection of polarized light by the homing pigeon,Columba livia . J. Comp. Physiol. 89, 83–92 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696165
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696165