Table 2 Estimates of sensitivity to magnetic intensity derived from empirical results

<70 nT

Keeton et al.¹⁶

Deterioration of pigeon (Columba livia) homing was correlated with slight geomagnetic disturbances; see also Gould¹²

<20 nT

Dennis et al.¹⁷

Sensitivity inferred from an analysis of pigeon (Columba livia) flight paths along intensity isolines after release in a magnetic anomaly

~40 nT

Southern¹⁸

Disruption of orientation behavior in ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) during slight geomagnetic disturbances

~30–60 nT

Putman et al.⁹

Changes in migratory path of sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) were correlated with slight changes in Earth’s magnetic field. The entire range of intensity differences for one multi-year data set only spans ~135 nT.

~20–40 nT

Putman et al.⁹

Changes in migratory path of pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) correlated with slight changes in Earth’s magnetic field. The entire range of intensity differences for a multi-year data set only spans ~ 69 nT

~26 nT

Walker and Bitterman¹⁹

Best performance in honeybee (Apis mellifera) conditioning study

~10 nT

Kirschvink and Gould²⁰

Correlation between honeybee (Apis mellifera) dance misdirection and slight changes in Earth’s magnetic field