Ask A Birder: Why Do Birds Sing in the Morning?

In the spring, listening to the dawn chorus is wonderful. All those birds seem to be singing for you. But, why are they doing that?

Birds react to first light, which wakes them up. Birds like American Robins have big eyes, which means they are some of the first birds to react to the rising of the sun and they start off the dawn chorus. But, it is still fairly dark, so the birds can’t hunt for food. Also, many birds rely on insects and other invertebrates, which need to be warmed by the sun. They won’t start moving or flying for a while.

Singing allows birds to fill this downtime with messages for other birds. A male bird lets his rivals know he survived the night and to still stay out of his territory. If he didn’t sing, they would know he is gone and take over his prime real estate.

Also, a male uses this time to advertise he is looking for a mate. If he already has a mate, this is a way to strengthen the pair bond. Sometimes, the female will sing back to him. Northern Cardinals will duet. I have listened to a female cardinal repeating the phrases her mate sang to her. (Male cardinal is shown singing at top of article.)

Unpaired males can listen to these songs and learn how to be a better singer. Northern Mockingbirds hear how many songs their rivals know and they must learn to do that or they won’t attract mates.

In their busy lives, birds don’t waste any part of their day. They eat, mate, raise their young, and sing.