Researchers from Germany’s Max Planck Institute of Animal Behavior found that pigeons temporarily deprived of these specialized liver cells struggled to find their way home, particularly on overcast days when the birds could not use the sun as a guide.

The findings suggest the liver could play a key role in the long-standing mystery of how pigeons detect magnetic fields. Researchers said similar mechanisms may exist in other animals, though further studies are needed to confirm the theory and determine how magnetic signals are transmitted to the brain.