How and why birds sings songs to express behavior

Before we get started on some of the more in depth questions, it’s a good idea to address some of the popular queries we hear, including do all birds sing? The answer to this is ‘it depends’. As in, it depends on what you calling singing! This is because almost all birds vocalize in one way or another, but only around 50% of birds are truly musical in a way we would recognize. Most of the birds you commonly hear singing in your garden or in the countryside fall into the order of passerines, commonly known as perching birds. Although there are around 4,000 species of birds are in the passeri group, they all have one thing in common – a highly developed vocal organ that enables them to be able to sing complicated melodies.


So, we now know that around 50% of the world’s birds sing in a melodic way. But why do they sing at all and what advantages does it bring? There are two main reasons that birds sing. One is to declare ownership of a territory and the other is to attract a mate. It is for this reason that male birds do the majority of the singing, in the same way male birds tend to have brighter, more colorful plumage. When they sing, they are telling other males ‘stay away, this is my territory’ and they’re telling females look at me, I own a territory with enough food and shelter to safely raise young. There are exceptions to this rule.


Recent studies suggest that the sound of birds singing isn’t just pleasant to our ears—it’s also good for our health. In fact, Institute research have found that hearing birdsong can significantly reduce stress, improve mood, and even lower feelings of anxiety and paranoia. And it works with recordings, too—so you can listen for these benefits all year long!
Whether you’re listening to birds in the wild or through a recording, the benefits are real. Birdsong has even been shown to restore our cognitive energy and improve focus, making it the perfect antidote to stress and mental fatigue.

Here are five ways birdsong can boost both your mental and physical well-being, and a couple of added benefits I’m finding, too. This is thought to be because at dawn its harder for predators to see them with the light level, and so the birds feel more settled and safer to sing their songs. Birds won’t sing if there’s a predator around of if they feel threatened. Our ancestors were more connected to nature and registered this as a safe time for them too. This association continues in our subconscious and as a result we feel pleased and calm when we hear our native songbirds singing away.



Birds sing throughout the day, but this is usually just individual birds chirping as they go about their business. It is generally in the morning that you will hear birds singing at the same time. That early morning wake-up call is not called the dawn chorus for nothing and anyone who has laid awake listening to it, or is up and about early enough to hear it in all its glory, will know how loud it can be. Birds start to sing early for a number of reasons. One of those is the lack of light. Making a lot of noise, as they do when they sing, attracts predators. This is much safer when the light is low as the predators will find it far harder to locate the birds than in daylight.

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Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

1. How does listening to bird song affect mental health?
   Listening to birdsong lowers cortisol levels, reduces anxiety, and increases feelings of calm and happiness.
2. Can birdsong improve focus and concentration?
   Yes, studies show that natural sounds like birdsong enhance attention, creativity, and cognitive performance.
3. Why does birdsong feel relaxing to humans?
   Birdsong activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping the body relax and recover from stress.