Study finds pigeon eyes remain still during flight

Researchers at Harvard University have found that pigeons maintain nearly fixed eye positions while in flight, according to reports from Phys.org and New Scientist.

The study, published in the journal Current Biology, indicates that instead of moving their eyes to scan the surrounding environment, the birds lock them in place during flight. This observation was made after researchers monitored nine pigeons as they performed short flights.

Phys.org reports that the research team equipped each bird with a lightweight rig consisting of cameras and mirrors to track eye movement. New Scientist notes that these specialized pieces of headgear allowed for the collection of data while the birds were on the wing. The results provide insight into how avian species manage visual input during active flight.