Why do birds choose to sing at dawn?

Birds sing a lot at dawn for a variety of reasons related to communication, the environment, and their biology. This phenomenon is often called the "dawn chorus . " Territorial defense, improved acoustic conditions, and even the goal of attracting a mate are all factors.

But recent South Korean research adds another fundamental reason to these motivations : during the night (when spontaneous singing is hindered by darkness) birds develop a singing impulse which they then release at dawn.

At that point, singing at first light of day, according to the researchers, serves the birds to keep the system that produces the song "trained" , a bit like:

• un musician who does exercises every day
• un athlete who trains to stay in shape

And let's see the other causes of this natural and daily choice of birds.

They defend the territory

Many male birds sing at dawn to signal to others that their territory is already occupied . The song functions as a sort of "sound sign" that says: this area is mine.

The acoustic conditions are better

At dawn the environment is quieter because:

• there is less wind
• there is less human noise
• the most stable air

This causes the sound to travel further and more clearly.

Singing as courtship

During the breeding season, singing also serves to attract a female . Early and energetic singing can indicate that the male is strong and healthy. After resting, birds have more energy and can produce long, complex songs.

The song before looking for food

When there's little light, it's harder to search for food. Many birds therefore use that time to sing , waiting for the light to increase before they start feeding.

Read also: 

• Birds become sleepless and lose their bearings due to artificial lights.
• Birdwatching: how to do it and the 10 most beautiful places in Italy
• How to observe bird migration