12 Amazing Facts About Birdsong
In this article, you will learn amazing information about bird songs!
Why do birds sing? How do they sing? Which birds can imitate cellphones, cars and chainsaws? Are there birds that can’t sing? This article will explain everything you need to know about birdsong.
Why Do Birds Sing?
“Go Away” and “Come Here”!
Birds use their songs to get the attention of their enemies. Why would they put themselves at risk like that? There are two main reasons: the birds are defending their territory and trying to find a partner. Some females do sing but it’s mostly the males that enchant us with their songs. You could say that their songs either mean “go away” or “come here”.
How Do Birds Sing?
From the Chest
We humans blow through our vocal cords to make them vibrate. Birds sing from their bellies, with their syrinx. It’s located just under the windpipe and is made of a membrane (skin flap) that the bird vibrates. Have you ever hit a drum and noticed that the skin moves a little? Think of it like that. Cowbirds can even vibrate their membrane in two different ways - so they can sing with two voices each.
Are There Birds that Can’t Sing?
Many birds make (some) noises but it’s nothing to do with singing. Birds like hummingbirds might seem silent, but they don’t move through life without making any noise. When they don’t sing, you can hear:
| Sound | Bird |
|---|---|
| Lion’s roar | Ostrich |
| Screech | Birds of prey |
| Coo | Dove |
| Stamping | Eurasian coot (feet) |
| Clapping | Stork (beak) |
| Wing beats | Wood pigeon (wings) |
| Knocks | Woodpecker (beak) |
| Trilling | Hummingbird (wingtips) |
- Table of Contents:
- 1. Why Do Birds Sing?
- 2. Most Beautiful, Longest and Loudest Birdsongs
- 3. Most Social, Romantic and International Birdsongs
