Many people like to call themselves bird watchers. But this activity is very limiting because it excludes a very fundamental and exciting aspect of the observation of birds: their songs and sounds. We are most familiar with the songs of birds. But when discussing communication among birds, authorities often speak of bird sounds, rather than bird song, because birds use call notes, rather than actual songs, to communicate with each other on a number of behavioral levels.
There are many reasons for taking the time to learn birds' sounds, not the least of which is to enjoy the beauty of the songs themselves. Others believe that taking the time to listen to birds enables them to align themselves more closely with nature.
However, a greater value for those who enjoy birds is the ability to identify birds by their calls. This skill adds tremendously to the enjoyment of birding and birdwatching. There is a great satisfaction in standing in a wooded habitat and identifying a dozen birds immediately without leaving the spot where you have stopped. In fact, bird sound is generally considered a better identification tool than visual sighting because of the many irregularities associated with birds' plumage, tricks of light and shadow, and movements of both the birds themselves and the branches on which they perch.
Another reason to learn bird songs and sounds is that they open another window into birds' lives because of the importance that the sounds they make have in their communication and behavior.
Though it does take additional effort to learn bird sounds, it is not the insurmountable task that some have pictured. For instance, we learn many concepts by repetition, so the patterns inherent in most bird sounds are instructive aids. In addition, where the bird is singing, as well as the time of day and year, can narrow down an identification, just like the visual process of bird identification.
Described here are a few basic facts about bird sound, followed by a few links to more information and samples of the songs, calls, and sounds of many species of birds from around the world.
Calls vs. Songs
Bird communication may be divided into these two components: calls and songs.
Calls
For many species, calls may be heard throughout the year. They are usually short bursts of sound of only a few notes. We may, or may not, recognize a pattern in the notes that make up a species' repertoire of calls. A specific call may have one of two purposes:
- Threat calls are intended to influence the behavior of other birds of the same species.
- Alarm calls warn of the presence of danger.
Songs
Songs are generally heard only during the breeding period because their purpose is usually centered on mating, strengthening of the pair bond, and establishing and defending nesting territory.
A song may be either a short or long series of notes that are organized into a repeatable pattern. Thus, for the human listener, songs are often easier to learn than calls. There are two types of song:
- Primary songs are the loud songs that we generally associate with bird song. These songs are usually sung only by the male.
- Secondary songs, which some authorities also call whisper songs, are the soft sounds that birds utter, perhaps as practice. Whisper songs may be heard at dusk or while birds are on the nest. Ornithologists do not appear to be certain about the function of these songs.
Duetting
Another song variant is one called duetting, or synchronized singing. Here, a mated pair may sing together or alternate in singing the various parts of a song.
Bird Dialects
Certain species of birds can have different dialects, much the same as the variation in pronunciation we hear when listening to persons from different parts of the country.
Some species of birds even have songs that are individually distinguishable, one individual bird from another.
Bird Sounds
Authorities distinguish bird song from bird sounds.
Most song birds are pearching birds, but some other species make sounds or whistles, for instance, numerous species of shorebirds. These noises are not traditionally considered bird song. Nevertheless, they are essential in enabling these species to communicate.
Flight noises, as for instance, wing beating, are also distinctive sounds of birds. Some species like hummingbirds have uniquely identifiable wing sounds.
Bird Sound Links
