Why do birds sing?

Cock-a-doodle-doo! If you’ve ever heard a rooster crow, you’ll know that not all bird songs are beautiful. Birds make sounds to “talk” to other birds and other animals. Some of the most complex — and beautiful — songs are sung by male birds during the mating season. They sing to attract a mate and to establish their territory. Other songs mean, “Stay away, this is my patch of land.”

In most species, male birds sing more than females. Females do sing, though. A female robin, for instance, will sit on the nest and sing with her partner. This seals their relationship as a couple.

The best time to listen to bird song is in the early morning as the Sun rises. This is when the birds are establishing their territories and looking for mates.