How do Birds Navigate? - Sun, Stars?

Birds use the sun and stars to know where they are going during their long trips.

Imagine you're playing hide-and-seek outside on a sunny day. You can tell which way is east because that's where the sun rises, and west because that's where it sets. Birds do something similar! They look at the sun in the sky like a big clock, it helps them know which direction to fly.

Using the Stars at Night

At night, when the stars come out, birds use them too. It’s like having a map full of little lights above you. Some birds, like the sparrow, can even see the North Star, which stays in one place all night, it's like a special marker they follow.

These clues from the sun and stars help birds find their way, just like you use your sense of direction to find your way home after playing outside. No magic, just clever bird brains!

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Examples

  1. A bird uses the sun's position to know which way to fly.
  2. Birds look at the stars like a map in the sky.
  3. During the day, birds follow the sun; at night, they use the stars.

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