Exogenous chemical substances in bird perception: a review

The perception of exogenous chemical substances, olfactory navigation and the use of the olfactory sense by birds to search for food are reviewed. Many results suggest that the olfactory sense is one of the important components of the navigation system in birds. The olfactory mechanisms used by homi...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: J. Rajchard
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences 2008-08-01
Series:Veterinární Medicína
Subjects:
Online Access:https://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/vet-200808-0002_exogenous-chemical-substances-in-bird-perception-a-review.php
_version_ 1797897655827824640
author J. Rajchard
author_facet J. Rajchard
author_sort J. Rajchard
collection DOAJ
description The perception of exogenous chemical substances, olfactory navigation and the use of the olfactory sense by birds to search for food are reviewed. Many results suggest that the olfactory sense is one of the important components of the navigation system in birds. The olfactory mechanisms used by homing pigeons to navigate homeward from distant sites have been well studied. The scent of potential food, carcasses, is a positive attracting percept for Vultures. Procellariiform seabirds (petrels, albatrosses and shearwaters) are able to localize food sources by using their olfactory sense. Procellariforms are sensitive to scented compounds associated with their primary prey: krill-related odors (pyrazines and trimethylamine), odors associated with phytoplankton (dimethyl sulfide - DMS) and ammonia. Anting is a specific type of behavior of over 200 bird species. Birds probably use anting to control ectoparasites, inhibit the growth of fungi or bacteria, to soothe skin irritated during the molting period, and to remove toxic formic acid from ants prior to their consumption. Insectivorous birds react to insect malodorous substances, produced by insect groups as a chemical defense against predators.
first_indexed 2024-04-10T08:01:46Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4f7d66c317934dfdae841d1f66c801bd
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 0375-8427
1805-9392
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-10T08:01:46Z
publishDate 2008-08-01
publisher Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences
record_format Article
series Veterinární Medicína
spelling doaj.art-4f7d66c317934dfdae841d1f66c801bd2023-02-23T03:49:34ZengCzech Academy of Agricultural SciencesVeterinární Medicína0375-84271805-93922008-08-0153841241910.17221/1926-VETMEDvet-200808-0002Exogenous chemical substances in bird perception: a reviewJ. Rajchard0Faculty of Agriculture, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech RepublicThe perception of exogenous chemical substances, olfactory navigation and the use of the olfactory sense by birds to search for food are reviewed. Many results suggest that the olfactory sense is one of the important components of the navigation system in birds. The olfactory mechanisms used by homing pigeons to navigate homeward from distant sites have been well studied. The scent of potential food, carcasses, is a positive attracting percept for Vultures. Procellariiform seabirds (petrels, albatrosses and shearwaters) are able to localize food sources by using their olfactory sense. Procellariforms are sensitive to scented compounds associated with their primary prey: krill-related odors (pyrazines and trimethylamine), odors associated with phytoplankton (dimethyl sulfide - DMS) and ammonia. Anting is a specific type of behavior of over 200 bird species. Birds probably use anting to control ectoparasites, inhibit the growth of fungi or bacteria, to soothe skin irritated during the molting period, and to remove toxic formic acid from ants prior to their consumption. Insectivorous birds react to insect malodorous substances, produced by insect groups as a chemical defense against predators.https://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/vet-200808-0002_exogenous-chemical-substances-in-bird-perception-a-review.phpantingfoodnavigationolfactory
spellingShingle J. Rajchard
Exogenous chemical substances in bird perception: a review
Veterinární Medicína
anting
food
navigation
olfactory
title Exogenous chemical substances in bird perception: a review
title_full Exogenous chemical substances in bird perception: a review
title_fullStr Exogenous chemical substances in bird perception: a review
title_full_unstemmed Exogenous chemical substances in bird perception: a review
title_short Exogenous chemical substances in bird perception: a review
title_sort exogenous chemical substances in bird perception a review
topic anting
food
navigation
olfactory
url https://vetmed.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/vet-200808-0002_exogenous-chemical-substances-in-bird-perception-a-review.php
work_keys_str_mv AT jrajchard exogenouschemicalsubstancesinbirdperceptionareview