Which statement about navigation by gray-headed albatrosses is false?
A) Landmarks provide critical clues to albatrosses first returning to their natal island.
B) Gray-headed albatrosses can find their way back to their natal island after wandering for eight or nine years.
C) The behavior of gray-headed albatrosses suggests they are capable of bicoordinate navigation.
D) Gray-headed albatrosses probably determine map coordinates using their circadian clock and cues from the sun.
E) The behavior of gray-headed albatrosses suggests that they are capable of true navigation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Gray-headed albatrosses, like many migratory birds, are known for their remarkable navigational abilities, which include true navigation and potentially bicoordinate navigation. They can indeed find their way back to their natal island after years of wandering, suggesting a sophisticated internal navigation system that could involve cues from the sun and their circadian clock. However, there is no specific evidence suggesting that landmarks play a critical role in their navigation, especially for those returning after long periods. The key navigational cues for these birds are more likely to be based on the earth's magnetic field, celestial cues, or olfactory cues rather than visual landmarks.

Which Statement About Navigation by Gray-Headed Albatrosses Is False