Sense of Smell for Birds - Page 1

The sense of smell in most birds is not highly developed. Just as a bird's eyes are large in relation to ours, the part of the brain that processes odors is relatively small. There are, however, some exceptions. Turkey Vultures locate their food -- decaying meat -- through smell. Not long ago, engineers trying to stop leaks in a pipeline took advantage of the Turkey Vulture's ability. They filled the pipeline with fumes that smelled like rotting meat and then watched along a 42-mile pipeline to see where the vultures gathered. It worked.

Many birds also use their sense of smell for navigating back to their home lofts.