Bird Singing

Many birds are known for their beautiful singing voices. Sometimes we may wonder why birds sing and if their songs have various meanings. In the U.S., male birds are mostly the ones that sing because they primarily have to defend their territorial spaces and also to attract mates. But in other areas of the world, both the male and female species of birds are known to sing duets.

More often than not, bird songs are repetitive and loud. Birds sing as loud as they can to compete with other birds. For example, a winter wren, which only weighs a third of an ounce, can sing ten times louder and more powerful than the crowing of a rooster. Birds can also repeat their songs up to a thousand times throughout the day, and this can take up to 70% of the day. A brown thrasher has a repertoire of songs that have at least two thousand variations while a Henslow’s sparrow has only one song.

Common Reasons Why Birds Sing

Serenading during courtship – scientists who have experimented with recorded bird songs have proven that birds sing to attract the attention of a mate. Female birds choose their mate based on the quality of the song that the male sings. Studies have shown that male birds that have a lot of food in their territories tend to be the most unrelenting singers. It is the most determined singing male bird that gets a mate the fastest.

To tell other birds to stay away – based on studies conducted by bird experts, an important factor that settles territorial disputes is through singing. Some birds sing aggressively as a warning for other male birds to stay away from their territory. Other male birds, upon hearing aggressive singing, will tend to stay away from a certain area claimed by another bird.

Flying while singing – birds can also sing while in mid-flight. These are the types of birds that usually nest in open areas, such as grasslands and in the arctic. Male birds usually fly over their territories and sing. This usually lasts for around five minutes, and is another way to attract mates.

Singing during dawn – a lot of bird species are most active during dawn. The study on banded wrens in Costa Rica documented several male species sing in unison in complex melodies. It is called a “dawn chorus” and usually occurs during the spring. Again, the singing is to defend their territories as well as to attract a mate.

Photo: http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc170/LUPITA04600/AVES%20-%20BIRDS/singing.jpg

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