Orientation Behaviour Recorded in Registration Cages: a Comparison of Funnel Cages and Radial Perch Cages

[During autumn 1979 and 1980 and in spring 1980 pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) were tested without any visual cues in the local geomagnetic field of Frankfurt (0.46 Gauss, mN 360°, 66° Incl). The orientation behaviour in funnel shaped cages and radial perch cages was compared. In all three seasons in the funnel cages the birds showed a mean direction which corresponded well with the expected migratory direction. In the radial perch cages no orientation was observed. The reasons for this difference are discussed; it may be in the special locomotory behaviour of captive pied flycatchers., During autumn 1979 and 1980 and in spring 1980 pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) were tested without any visual cues in the local geomagnetic field of Frankfurt (0.46 Gauss, mN 360°, 66° Incl). The orientation behaviour in funnel shaped cages and radial perch cages was compared. In all three seasons in the funnel cages the birds showed a mean direction which corresponded well with the expected migratory direction. In the radial perch cages no orientation was observed. The reasons for this difference are discussed; it may be in the special locomotory behaviour of captive pied flycatchers.]