Multi-Sensor Assessment of Pigeon Flight Behavior: Role of Biomechanical and Landscape Characteristics.

ABSTRACT: Understanding how birds adjust their flight in response to biomechanical characteristics and environmental conditions can be useful for interpreting homing behavior. This study investigates homing pigeons' (Columba livia) flight behavior using multi-sensor biologgers, integrating GPS, tri-axial accelerometer, pressure, and temperature sensors. Flight biomechanics were assessed by extracting: wingbeat frequency from the Short-Time Fourier Transform of the total acceleration signal and peak-to-peak acceleration from the dorso-ventral component. Landscape characteristics were provided by classifying land cover along the route using a geographic atlas and by computing flight altitude above ground level through the combination of pressure-derived altitude and a digital elevation model. T

SUBMITTER: Forconi F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12899695 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature