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How do birds detect tiny vibrations in the branches where they perch?
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Mechanoreception
In human skin, specialized nerve endings known as Meissner's corpuscles (or tactile corpuscles) are sensitive to touch. They are one of several different types of mechanoreceptors found in human skin.
Birds detect tiny vibrations in the branches where they perch through specialized sensory structures known as corpuscles of Herbst (or Herbst corpuscles).12
These receptors are located within the tibiotarsal bone of the bird's leg. They are highly sensitive to mechanical stimuli, allowing birds to perceive slight movements or tremors in their perches. Research indicates that these receptors have a maximal sensitivity at a frequency of approximately 800 cycles per second, with a threshold amplitude of about 20 millimicrons. This specialized mechanoreception capability enables birds to monitor their immediate environment through the physical substrate upon which they rest.1