Immature blackcap warblers that have never migrated exhibit migratory restlessness in the fall. Isolated young birds whose parents orient due west also orient west, while isolated young birds whose parents orient to the south also orient south. This provides evidence that

A) the social environment is critical for determining migratory orientation.
B) birds whose parents orient to the west had higher reproductive success than birds orienting in another direction.
C) evolution acts to separate bird populations during migration so as to minimize competition for resources.
D) genetic differences underly the migratory behavior of different blackcap warbler populations.

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McKenzie Faure · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : D, Explanation :  The behavior of isolated young blackcap warblers, who have never migrated and yet show a specific migratory orientation that matches their parents, suggests that migratory behavior is inherited rather than learned from the social environment. This points to genetic differences as the basis for the observed variations in migratory orientation among different populations of blackcap warblers.

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