Fast long-distance flights cause changes in internal clocks and errors in sun-based navigation

Manx shearwaters experience predictable errors in Sun compass orientation during homing flights due to time shifts.

• The endogenous clock is essential for tracking the Sun's position, which aids in navigation over long distances.
• Traveling east-west creates time shifts that can misalign the internal clock with local time.
• Despite having access to other navigation cues while following the coast, shearwaters continue to rely on the Sun compass.
• These findings suggest that rapid movements across longitudes may influence other biological processes tied to the endogenous clock.
• Chronobiological mechanisms play a significant role in the navigation capabilities of these birds.

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