homing instinct; homing ability
Zoological term for the ability of an animal to return to its nest, home territory, or place of origin. Often used in contexts like bird migration or salmon returning to their birthplace.
See also: 回帰性
The homing instinct of carrier pigeons is extremely strong.
It is said that the homing ability of salmon comes from remembering the smell of the river where they were born.
Compound of 帰 (return), 巣 (nest), and 性 (nature, property). The term is a modern scientific coinage, likely from the early 20th century, modeled on Western zoological concepts.