Why Do Birds Sing?
Birds sing to mark their
territory and to attract mates. As though they were posting “No
Trespassing” signs around their nests, birds sing songs that others of
their species recognize and respect. The singing sounds beautiful and
lighthearted but is serious business for the birds.
Spreading the Word
In most bird species, the male does all the singing (one
exception is the Northern Cardinal, in which both sexes sing).
The time of greatest activity is spring and early summer—the
nesting season. Songs not only attract females, they scare away
other males. Scientists think birds developed songs to spread
their message over a long distance, even in forests where the
birds are hidden.
Song and Dance Routines
Birds of the open country combine songs with courtship flights.
If you are in a field where Bobolinks nest, you’ll see one male
after another bounce into the air, circle on quivering wings,
and sing a bubbling version of their name while gliding to
earth.
Learning Bird Songs
Often the only way to tell birds apart is by their songs. To
remember the songs, most birders put words to them—for example,
the whichity-whichity-whichity of a Common Yellowthroat
or the American Robin’s rolling cheerily-cheery-me. But
not all birds sing their own songs. Some are mimics, imitating
the songs of other species. Northern Mockingbirds, Brown
Thrashers, Gray Catbirds, starlings, and Yellow-breasted Chats
are all mimics; a single Brown Thrasher may sing 1,000 different
songs.
Two
Notes at Once
Bird song comes from an organ in the throat called the syrinx,
which has two sides that vibrate. Some birds, like Wood
Thrushes, can sing two different notes at the same time.
How
Does a Bird Know What to Sing?
Scientists believe it’s partly instinct and partly learned—when
a young bird hears an adult singing its species’ song, something
is triggered in its brain, allowing the youngster to sing the
same melody.
House Wren
