Why Do Birds Sing?
Are They Just Happy?

Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs: Eastern Region

Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs: Western Region

Ever wonder why birds sing or how they are able to create such beautiful sounds? Read on to discover how and why.

One reason we feed wild birds around our homes is that we presume they appreciate a little help from their friends. Another reason is that we simply enjoy having them around.

We like watching their antics, seeing their colors -- and listening to them. Each bird species is capable of making a variety of sounds that it uses to communicate with other birds.

These sounds are songs, which usually are long and complex, and calls, which usually are short and simple.

By encouraging birds to our yards, we are more liable to hear all their vocalizations.

Songbirds account for nearly half of the world's 9,600 different species and about 40% of the 750 found in North America.

For the most part, it is the males that "sing" -- a consistently repeated pattern of tones.

But in a few species, including Northern cardinals, Baltimore orioles and rose-breasted grosbeaks, the female also occasionally breaks into song.

Birds generally sing more in the early morning and late afternoon.

While singing behavior varies among species, most takes place during the breeding season. Lags occur during the short mating period and when the young are being cared for.

Singing pretty much stops when the nestling period is over. At least in the North, winter ends singing -- except for Northern cardinals. They seem to sing year 'round.

The songs of birds are learned, not inherited, much as with humans. Within a couple of months, fledglings will have developed a "subsong" that matures into an adult primary song in perhaps a year.

If a white-crowned sparrow grew up with, for example, only song sparrows around, it would learn song-sparrow songs.

Although chipping sparrows have only one

Pete Dunne on Bird Watching

basic song, song sparrows may have 10, some wrens more than 100 and -- as many of you well know -- mockingbirds a couple hundred that they voice endlessly.

The species that sing create musical sounds by their syrinx. This is a kind of double voice box at the bottom of the windpipe.

Two sets of membranes and muscles where the windpipe branches into the lungs vibrate at high frequencies as air is exhaled. In fact, while singing, a bird can alternate exhaling between its two lungs and thereby sing in harmony with itself.

Usually a male that is defending a territory or attracting a mate will sing from one of the highest or most conspicuous spots available.

This favorite spot may be used time and time again. On the other hand, some birds, such as larks, bobolinks and buntings, sing while flying.

And while birds usually do not sing around their nests, a few sing a quiet "whisper song" that can be heard for only a few yards.

In the final analysis, different birds sing different songs but usually for much the same reasons. One of those just might be that they are well fed, stress free and happy.

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