Homing is the natural ability of an animal to find their way back to a place they know, even when they are in new or unknown areas. This place could be their home area or a place where they raise their young.

Uses

Homing abilities help animals return to their home during migration. This ability is often used to guide animals back to the same place where they were born, even if it has been many years, such as with salmon. Homing abilities also help animals return to their usual habitat if they are moved far away, like the red-bellied newt.

True navigation

Some animals use a special way of finding their way back home. In places they know well, they use landmarks such as roads, rivers, or mountains when flying, or islands and other landmarks when swimming. This method only works in areas they are familiar with. For example, homing pigeons often use roads as landmarks to navigate. Sea turtles also use landmarks to help them find their way.

Magnetic orientation

Many animals use magnetic orientation by using the Earth's magnetic field to navigate back to their homes. This method is often used with other ways, such as a sun compass, as seen in bird migration and in turtles. It is also used when other methods are not available, such as in lobsters, which live underwater, and mole rats, which navigate through their underground tunnels.

Celestial orientation

Using the stars to find directions, called celestial orientation, helps animals return to their homes. For example, marbled newts that are moved away can only find their way back when stars are visible.

Olfaction

There is evidence showing that smell helps some salamanders, like the red-bellied newt, return to their home. Smell is also important for salmon to return to their home.

Topographic memory

Topographic memory, which involves remembering the shapes and features around their destination, is a common way for some animals to navigate. This method is often used by animals with lower intelligence, such as mollusks. Limpets use this type of memory to return to their home scrape; however, some scientists are not sure if this counts as true homing.