Which animal is specifically noted for using stars to navigate during migration?

Which animal is specifically noted for using stars to navigate during migration?

• A. Indigo bunting
• B. Honeybee
• C. Desert ant
• D. Dung beetle

Answer: (A)

Celestial cues guide some animals in migration. Indigo buntings are a classic example of using the night sky to orient their long journeys. Experiments with these birds show that when the star patterns above them are rotated or obscured, the buntings change their migratory direction accordingly, indicating they rely on the arrangement of stars to steer their path. Honeybees navigate mainly by the sun’s position and learned landmarks, not by stars. Desert ants rely on ground-based cues and internal path integration to move, rather than celestial navigation. Dung beetles can be influenced by star patterns like the Milky Way in certain positioning tasks, but that use is not tied to migratory behavior. Therefore, the indigo bunting best fits the idea of using stars to navigate during migration.

Celestial cues guide some animals in migration. Indigo buntings are a classic example of using the night sky to orient their long journeys. Experiments with these birds show that when the star patterns above them are rotated or obscured, the buntings change their migratory direction accordingly, indicating they rely on the arrangement of stars to steer their path.

Honeybees navigate mainly by the sun’s position and learned landmarks, not by stars. Desert ants rely on ground-based cues and internal path integration to move, rather than celestial navigation. Dung beetles can be influenced by star patterns like the Milky Way in certain positioning tasks, but that use is not tied to migratory behavior. Therefore, the indigo bunting best fits the idea of using stars to navigate during migration.