Study
Genetic Basis of Migratory Behavior in European Warblers
Berthold, Peter; Querner, Ulrich
Science, 1981
Warblers from populations differing in migratory behaviour were hand-raised in identical conditions and their migratory restlessness measured, with selective breeding used across generations.
- Studied in
- Sylvia atricapilla, Sylvia borin
- Sample size
- hand-raised warblers across populations and generations
The amount and timing of migratory restlessness tracked the population of origin rather than the rearing conditions, and responded rapidly to artificial selection.
What it means
The authors' reading, and ours. Where they differ, that difference is the point.
How the authors put it
How much and how long a warbler migrates has a substantial heritable component that can change quickly under selection.
How NatureHQ reads it
One half of the inherited-versus-learned answer, and the half that is easiest to overstate. What is inherited here is a *programme* — a direction and an amount of restlessness — and not a route: a bird carrying it and released somewhere unexpected will fly the inherited heading into the sea.
- Caged restlessness is a proxy for migration, not a migration.
- Establishes heritability of direction and duration; it does not show that any particular route is inherited.
What this study is used for on NatureHQ
One study can inform several subjects. Here is everywhere this one is cited.
Migration
There is no single migratory pattern. Some populations go every year and some only in bad years; in many species some individuals leave and their neighbours stay.
Migration
Day length decides roughly when to go, because it is the one signal that never drifts. Weather decides the night: migrants wait, then leave in pulses when the wind turns favourable.
Bird migration
A young bird inherits a direction and roughly how long to fly, not a route. Cross two populations that head different ways and the offspring head between them.
Published by: American Association for the Advancement of SciencePublished in Science or Science Advances (AAAS).
doi.org/10.1126/science.212.4490.77
Checked against Crossref on 2026-09-28, and they agree on the title, the authors and the year.
NatureHQ summarises research in its own words and does not reproduce published text. Reviewed 2026-09-03.