A study reports that pigeons may rely on a magnetic-sensing system located in the liver to help with navigation. Across outlets, researchers propose that the birds use iron-rich immune cells in the liver as potential detectors of Earth’s magnetic field. The idea is that these cells could respond to the magnetic environment and contribute to the pigeons’ internal compass.
Popular Science, The Globe and Mail, and Ars Technica describe the concept in similar terms: special immune cells containing iron may function as sensors, providing information used during homing and directional movement. The research is presented as a step toward explaining how pigeons convert environmental cues into reliable navigation.
The outlets emphasize that the proposed mechanism is based on the presence and properties of the cells, rather than on a confirmed “single switch” for navigation. They characterize the liver-based sensor hypothesis as a plausible contributor to magnetic-field perception, complementing other known sensory and neurological factors in bird navigation.
