Why do birds sing at night?
WE all love to wake to a beautiful dawn chorus.
But some birds don't wait until morning to make themselves heard. Here's why some enjoy singing during the night.
Why do birds sing at night?
As one of the first birds to sing in the morning, the robin is also one of the last to stop singing at night.
All birds are governed by the rhythm of light and dark and their song is part of this habitual behaviour.
It is nocturnal birds that you are most likely to hear after dark.
The noise these birds make is first and foremost a signal to others around them.
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Reasons for singing can include if they have found food or alerting others to danger.
Birds also sing to try to attract a mate or mark their territory.
Songs and sounds may also be triggered after dark by thunder, fireworks, earthquakes, or wartime bombing.
Which birds sing at night?
Nocturnal birds will sing at night rather than join in on the dawn chorus.
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This includes owls, corncrakes, nightjars and nightingales.
The call of an owl is known more as a hoot or screech rather than as a song, but they make the sounds for the same reason birds sing during the day
Robins may also be heard after dark as they often forage in dim light, which is why they are one of the fist to sing at the crack of dawn.
They are also known to search for food under artificial light.
In urban areas, they are the most likely bird to be heard during the night.
Reed and sedge warblers are also verbal during the night.
What is the dawn chorus?
The dawn chorus is a term used to describe birdsong early in the morning.
It incorporates the songs of all species as they make their voices heard at sunrise.
The best time to listen is 30 minutes before sunrise and up to 30 minutes after dawn.
Birds sing in the morning for three main reasons and it is typically carried out by the strongest and best-fed birds
They sing early in the morning to signal to others that they have made it through the night.
They also use the sound to defend their territory.
And male birds use their song to show off to the female birds.
They demonstrate how healthy and capable they are as well as warn rival male birds that might want to move in.
The amount of singing fluctuates during the year but peaks during May and June, while birds are searching for a mate.
The birds all have their own recognisable voices.
Which birds sing in the morning?
Birds sing a range of songs at dawn, starting 30 minutes before sunrise.
The singing follows a specific sequence as blackbirds, song thrushes and robins lead the singing throughout the morning.
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After pre-dawn, they are joined by sparrows, wrens, and woodpigeons.
Early risers will be rewarded with the best songs.