Tech

Seabirds racing home over the ocean can get jet-lagged

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 02/11/2026, 15:43:24 UTC.

Briefings

A new study by Patrick Lewin at the University of Oxford reveals that Manx shearwaters, seabirds flying hundreds of kilometers daily across the North Atlantic, experience jet lag that skews their compass navigation. The research, published in Science, identifies this physiological disruption as a potential factor in their navigation challenges. The study highlights that while Manx shearwaters breed in the UK and Ireland, the North Atlantic excursions are where the jet lag effects are most pronounced and measurable.

Key points

• Manx shearwaters, medium-sized birds related to albatross, experience jet lag during daily North Atlantic excursions, causing measurable compass skew.
• The study was conducted by Patrick Lewin, a behavioral and sensory ecologist at the University of Oxford, who led the research on these seabirds.

Context

Manx shearwaters breed in coastal islands around the North Atlantic, with populations concentrated in the UK, Ireland, and Wales. Their migration patterns involve long-distance flights across multiple time zones, which typically causes jet lag in humans but is now confirmed to occur in these birds, affecting their navigational abilities.

Limitations

The study focuses specifically on Manx shearwaters and their North Atlantic excursions; it does not provide data on other bird species or the full extent of their impact on global migration patterns. The findings are based on a single published study and may not represent the complete picture of jet lag effects in this species.

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