8 Expert-Backed Explanations Behind Birds' Early Morning Singing

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There’s more to a bird’s chirping than being your personal alarm clock

Co-authored by Roger J. Lederer, PhD and Devin McSween

Last Updated: January 20, 2024 Fact Checked

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Why Birds Chirp in the Morning

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When does chirping usually start in the morning?

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What kind of birds can you hear in the morning?

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Expert Interview

The sound of lovely birdsong trills outside your bedroom…but your clock is only reading 5 am. As you lie awake listening to the chirping, you’re probably left wondering why birds insist on singing so early. Well, we’ve got the answers! In this article, we’ll tell you all about why birds like to start chirping and singing at the crack of dawn. Just shake off your grogginess and enjoy the dawn chorus as you read!

Things You Should Know

Birds likely chirp in the morning because they’re looking for a mate, protecting their territory against rivals, and warming up their voice for the day.
Birds usually start their dawn chorus, or chirping, about 1 hour before sunrise.
The most common birds that sing in the morning are blackbirds, thrushes, robins, finches, and warblers.

Section 1 of 3:

Why Birds Chirp in the Morning

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To warm up their voices for the day It might seem unbelievable, but researchers believe that birds chirp early in the morning to prepare their voices for singing. As it turns out, birds usually start their chirping at a slower tempo and a narrower range of pitches. By the time the sun rises, they’re singing faster, using a wider pitch range, and singing more difficult tunes!^{[1]
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- Vocal exercises also help male birds better impress females with their songs during the day.
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It’s a quieter time to sing The bustling of other animals and humans tends to pick up after the sun fully rises. So, birds likely find that all their important chirping is more effective in the morning when their environment is still quiet. In fact, as noise pollution increases in cities, birds often start chirping earlier than normal.^{[2]
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National Audubon Society
Nonprofit environmental organization focused on conservation, citizen science, and public science education

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- As noise pollution increases, light pollution usually does too. So, increased light from growing cities can also cause birds to start chirping earlier.
- Researchers used to believe that birds sang in the morning because the cooler temperatures carried their voices farther. After running tests, they discovered that their voices went just as far in the morning as the afternoon. However, increased noise pollution does explain why morning might be the best time to sing.
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To attract a mate This is one of the most common reasons behind a bird’s early morning chirping. What you might not know is that the majority of birds you hear in the morning are males! Their songs let female birds know where they are and that they’re available for courting. Females judge a male’s attractiveness by his singing, so it can be quite a lot of pressure so early in the morning!^{[3]
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- Early morning singing also acts as a sort of competition between males. A male bird wants to sing as loud and clear as possible to show female birds that he’s a stronger, more healthy bird than his rivals.
- Morning chirping is usually the loudest and most frequent in the spring. This is when most bird species start breeding.
EXPERT TIP

Roger J. Lederer, PhD
Ornithologist
Dr. Roger Lederer is an Ornithologist and the founder of Ornithology.com, an informative website about wild birds. Dr. Lederer has spent over 40 years teaching, studying, and writing about birds. He has traveled to over 100 countries to study birds. Dr. Lederer is an Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences at California State University, Chico, and has been a Department Chair of Biological Sciences and Dean of the College of Natural Sciences. He has written more than 30 research papers and 10 books on birds and a textbook entitled “Ecology and Field Biology.” Dr. Lederer has consulted the BBC, National Geographic, National Public Radio, ABC News, the Guinness Book of World Records, and numerous other organizations and publications.

Roger J. Lederer, PhD
Ornithologist

Birds sing early to mark territory and attract mates. The first songs at dawn aren’t random. Light triggers hormone production, and males sing to claim nesting areas and court females. Bright mornings provide ideal communication conditions too.
A male bird's morning song is also his way of telling other male birds to back off. The competition for a mate can be intense, so his calls let rival males know that his area is claimed. His beautiful chirps and trills are also a signal that he’s ready to fight if his territory is invaded.^{[4]
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The first thing that a bird usually wants to do when they wake up is fill their belly with food. The only problem is that it’s still too dark to hunt. So, birds might chirp so early because they don’t have anything else to do!^{[5]
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Section 2 of 3:

When does chirping usually start in the morning?

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Most birds start chirping about 1 hour before sunrise. Depending on the season, this means that birds start chirping between 4 to 6 am. And despite the early hour, their singing is louder and more frequent than at any other time of day. This is actually why birds’ morning songs are known as the dawn chorus!^{[6]
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- However, when each bird starts singing depends on the species. Some birds start an hour or 2 before sunrise, while others wait until the morning is closer.
- Birds usually stop chirping once the sun rises over the horizon. The bright light signals to them that it’s time to start their day.
- The dawn chorus is so popular among birders that there is an international day to celebrate it! On the first Sunday in May, bird enthusiasts wake up extra early to listen to and witness the beautiful birdsong.

Section 3 of 3:

What kind of birds can you hear in the morning?

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Blackbirds, robins, and thrushes are usually the earliest risers and singers. Not much later though, other birds like finches, warblers, cardinals, sparrows, and pheasants join in. Luckily, you don’t have to go far to hear these birds, as they are common in most residential areas.^{[7]
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- If you want to attract more birds into your yard, it’s super easy! Just research the types of birds native to your area and provide them with a suitable birdhouse and seed.
- Adding a birdbath to your yard is another simple way to invite more songbirds into your yard.