Why do birds sing?

Wake up early on a sunny day and you might hear it: birds chirping and whistling all around. It sounds lovely, but why do birds make so much music?

A song that says “this is mine”

A bird’s song is really a kind of message. One of the things a bird sings is, “This is my space!” By singing loud and clear from a high branch, a bird tells other birds, “I live here, please find your own tree.”

This way birds can share the forest without bumping into each other all day.

Calling for a friend

Birds also sing to find a mate — a partner to share a nest with. A bird that sings a strong, beautiful song is saying, “Look at me, I would make a good friend!” The other bird listens and may sing back.

Every bird has its own tune

Here is the clever part: each kind of bird has its very own song. A robin sounds different from a blackbird, and a blackbird sounds different from a wren. Birds learn their songs when they are young, a bit like you learning a tune.

Birds often sing loudest in the morning, when the air is calm and quiet — so their songs travel far.

Wonder fact: A bird called the lyrebird can copy almost any sound it hears, even a camera click or a car alarm!