Depolarization of natural skylight disrupts orientation of an avian nocturnal migrant

Summary Given a view of clear evening skies, migratory blackcaps (Aves:Sylvia atricapilla) orient appropriately in the absence of meaningful information from the geomagnetic field. When the intensity of natural skylight polarization patterns was reduced with pseudodepolarizers by over 90%, test birds were disoriented, and their migratory restlessness in autumn was drastically reduced.