If you’ve ever been woken up before sunrise by the trilling and chirping of birds outside your window, you may have wondered: why do birds sing so loud, so early in the morning?
If you’ve ever been woken up before sunrise by the trilling and chirping of birds outside your window, you may have wondered: why do birds sing so loud, so early in the morning?
Researchers at Duke University say there may be a good reason why birds are most vocal at first light. By singing early and often, a new study suggests, birds perform better during the day.
The morning cacophony is mostly males, whose songs are meant to impress potential mates and rivals.
“It’s like they’re warming up backstage, before the sun comes up and the curtain rises,” said co-author Stephen Nowicki, a biology professor at Duke.
Read more at Duke University
Photo: The dawn chorus of birdsong may be a warm-up routine that helps birds meet the physical demands of singing and deliver their best performance later in the day. Photo by Robert Lachlan, Royal Holloway, University of London
