thumb|A [[European robin singing at dawn]]

The dawn chorus is the outbreak of birdsong at the start of a new day. In temperate countries this is most noticeable in spring when the birds are either defending a breeding territory, trying to attract a mate or calling in the flock. In a given location it is common for different species to do their dawn singing at different times.

In some territories where bird life is extensive and birds are vocal, the sound of a dawn chorus may make it difficult for humans to sleep in the early morning.

Timing

In a 2007 study of the Ecuadorian forest, it was determined that birds perching higher in the trees and birds with larger eyes tend to sing first. This may be due to differences in the amount of light perceived by the birds.

International Dawn Chorus Day

An annual International Dawn Chorus Day is held on the first Sunday in May when the public are encouraged to rise early to listen to bird song at organised events. The first ever was held at Moseley Bog in Birmingham, England, in 1987, organized by the Urban Wildlife Trust (now The Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country).

See also

  • Bird song
  • Dawn chorus (electromagnetic)
  • Natural sounds

References

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  • International Dawn Chorus Day
  • The language of birds: The dawn chorus