Magnetic Signal Found in Pigeon Livers, Study Links Immune Cells to Navigation

A study published May 28, 2026, in the journal Science identified a strong magnetic signal in the livers of pigeons and linked specialized immune cells there to the birds' ability to navigate using Earth's magnetic field. Researchers led by Martin Wikelski of the Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior in Germany examined pigeon organs for magnetic clues.

They found the clearest signal in the liver, where immune cells break down red blood cells and store iron.

When scientists temporarily removed those cells and released the pigeons to fly, the birds “just couldn't find their way,” said Christian Kurts of the University of Bonn. The effect appeared only on overcast days, when the birds could not use the sun for orientation. Clivia Lisowski, also at the University of Bonn, noted that the immune cells sit near nerve fibers in the liver.

The study is the first to present a full theory connecting these iron-rich cells to magnetic orientation. ” The same immune cells have been observed in the beak and spleen. Researchers said other birds and animals such as mice may use a similar magnetic system.

In an accompanying editorial, veterinary pathologist Simon Spiro and biologist Hal Drakesmith wrote that pigeons might employ different magnetic-sensing methods depending on whether they travel long distances or head to a specific destination.