Bird sounds are separated into songs and calls. Bird calls are simple notes produced by males and females throughout the year. The sound of bird song is more elaborate and musical, telling other birds: “This is my territory”. Different bird calls are sounded for different purposes. Contact calls keep birds in a flock aware of each others whereabouts. However in large colonies it is important to also have breeding calls which are recognized by mates, parents and young. Alarm calls attract other birds to assist in attacking predators and stopping their silent approach.

Bird song is especially important at the beginning of the breeding season, and is also prominent before migrating or when stopping along the way. Certain species defend their territory all year round and thus sing continually, and in some cases both male and female will sing for this purpose. Bird song is most effective in the morning as sound travels farther in the still air. Birds will often perch on high, exposed positions to make their voices heard, as this reduces interference from surrounding bush and allows the sound to travel more effectively.

A fascinating bird sound is that of the lyretailed honeyguide of Central Africa. This bird will fly above the tree tops whilst singing; it then spirals down from these great heights. Whilst spiraling its tail vibrates and the wind blowing through its spiky feathers sounds like a loud drum. This sound can be heard over a great distance.

Many people listen to recordings of bird calls and use these in identifying birds as each bird has unique calls and sounds. So next time you listen to birds calling outside your window, consider what message they are trying to convey.

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Ongoing ornithological research continues to confirm what keen bird-watchers have suspected all along – their feathered friends are highly intelligent and adaptive, with an amazing array of communication skills. A new study conducted by researchers at Queen’s University in Washington has revealed that migrating songbirds rely on the behavior of local resident birds to assist them in avoiding predators during migration.

Migrating birds face many potentially dangerous situations during their annual journey and sadly, many don’t make it. Avoiding predators when flying through unfamiliar territory would substantially increase a bird’s chances of arriving at its destination safely. However, to be in a position to avoid predators, a migrating bird needs to be able to establish exactly what its predators are. This is where the behavior of the local bird population proves invaluable.

The Queen’s University research project involved testing whether migratory songbirds note, and respond to, the anti-predator behavior of local birds. A common method of chasing off predators is known as “mobbing”. Once a potential predator has been identified, a number of birds will approach and rapidly change their positions around its location, while at the same time flapping their wings, twitching their tails and emitting load alarmed calls.

Recognizing that migratory birds seldom participate in mobs, researchers wanted to establish if they gain information with regard to the location, identity and degree of threat of a predator by listening to mobbing calls of local bird species. A test was carried out on birds migrating between Canada and Belize, whereby researchers broadcast playbacks of the alarm calls of the black-capped chickadee which is common in North America and therefore familiar, as well as the blue-gray tanager which is common in Central America and therefore unfamiliar to the migrating birds.

The results of this test showed that birds resident in Belize responded only to the tanager calls, whereas migrant birds responded to the tanager and chickadee calls. Queen’s University biology professor Dr. Laurene Ratcliffe, said that the results of the test present the first evidence that migrating birds take note of the anti-predator behavior of local birds during migration, and use this information to their advantage.

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Keen birders have long appreciated the intelligence and communication skills of birds. Apart from the fact that birdsong is delightful to listen to, it is also an integral part of bird identification for bird-watchers, as well as a means for birds to communicate with one another. Ongoing avian research is continuously revealing fascinating facts about birds, how they interact with one another and how they adapt to a rapidly changing world. Recent research has revealed that some migratory songbirds choose their nesting area based solely on the songs of other birds that are successfully raising their young.

To test the theory that birds make use of this “eavesdropping” method of communication, researchers have played recordings of successful parents’ birdsong in areas that would not normally be chosen as a nesting site. The result was that the recorded songs prompted birds to nest there, suggesting that they are more influenced by their social network than by the suitability of the habitat. This is a strong indication that songbirds have far more complex communication skills than previously thought.

In a joint research project, scientists and avian ecology experts from Oregon State University, Wellesley College, Trent University and Queens University, monitored 54 research sites focusing on the black-throated blue warbler. Due to their limited life-span, selecting the right habitat to successfully breed is of primary importance to most birds, as they need to get it right first time. If their choice of nesting site doesn’t have sufficient cover and a ready food supply, their chances of breeding successfully are significantly diminished. It was previously thought that vegetation structure was the driving force behind their choice of nesting site, but the results of this new research indicate that younger birds listen to the songs of older, more experienced birds and use this as the criteria for their choice of nesting site in the next breeding season.

At the research site in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, during autumn when successful parents were singing to their young, presumably to show them how to sing, researchers recorded their song and played it in other, totally unsuitable habitats. Other black-throated blue warblers that were flying overhead chose to nest in these habitats the following spring, even though they were obviously unsuitable. It was further discovered that male birds are four times more likely to be influenced by the birdsong in choosing a nesting site and, even though the male’s choice was obviously unsuitable, the female would follow.

Although it has been understood for some time that birds make various sounds for various reasons, such as for sounding an alarm or to attract a mate, but researchers were surprised at just how strongly the birds were influenced by vocal and auditory communication when it came to choosing nesting habitat. The results of the research can prove invaluable in the light of rapidly changing climates and deteriorating environment. If birds respond to vocal cues, they could be persuaded to abandon previously chosen nesting sites should they no longer be suitable, and be guided to nesting sites which will benefit them and their offspring.

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Though the colors of other parrot species are more spectacular, the intelligence of the African Grey makes it one of the most popular parrot species when it comes to choosing a pet bird. The African Grey Parrot (Psittacus erithacus) is a medium-sized bird that is commonly found in rainforests in both West and Central Africa and it feeds mainly on nuts, fruits and leafy matter.

Most people do not realize that there are two subspecies of African Grey – the Congo and the Timneh. Both of these are predominantly grey in color, with a pale-grey bottom and a featherless rim of light grey to white skin around their eyes. The short feathers on their necks have paler margins and this makes the neck look scalloped. But this is where the similarities end. The Timnah has a dark maroon tail and a light upper mandible while the Congo has a black beak and a bright red tail. The Congo African Grey also has a sleeker appearance. The Congo African Grey is the more popular choice when it comes to choosing a pet parrot. Potential parrot traders do well to note that the trade of wild caught species is restricted to ensure the longevity of these magnificent birds.

What makes these birds so appealing is not their coloring, but their intelligence. The African Grey is generally regarded as being the most intelligent bird on our planet. Research indicates that captive African Greys are capable of associating a number of human words with their meanings to some extent – though some dispute these conclusions. There have been reports of certain individual birds having a vocabulary of about a thousand words and even having the capability to string these words together into often comprehensive sentences. Despite the debates that rage around the performance of these remarkable individuals, it is definitely clear that African Greys are amongst the most intelligent of bird species.

The idea of keeping these magnificent birds as pets is not a new one. It would seem that the earliest record of pet parrots is taken from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. It is also known that the Greeks and Romans kept pet parrots and that these were valued as pets of the wealthy – especially if they could talk. Indeed, they continued to be enjoyed as valued companions throughout history and King Henry VIII even had an African Grey. Most parrots found in the pet trade today are hand-reared by breeders. If you are considering buying a baby bird, you should pay careful attention to how their breeder chooses to raise them as their suitability as a pet will be greatly affected by this.

Many find that keeping a pet African Grey is a weighty but rewarding responsibility. These birds usually require quite a lot of personal attention and failure to see to their needs could result in behavioral problems. The bird will need plenty of interesting toys to keep it busy when its owner is unavailable. A suitably large cage will be needed for the bird and this will have to be cleaned regularly. While many still advocate the clipping of the bird’s wings, it would seem that research has shown that this generally has a detrimental effect on the bird’s health and it is not recommended. Bird owners will also need to be careful about what they feed their birds. African Greys need plenty of calcium and vitamin A and there are a number of foods – such as chocolate and avocado – which are potentially detrimental to the bird’s health. However, all these factors should not put you off owning one of these magnificent birds and some would argue that they make one of the best pets available.

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Scientists who have been searching for insight into how the brain learns motor tasks have had a new breakthrough. By studying the brains of both adult and juvenile songbirds, it has now been realized that there are two completely different brain circuits that are involved in the process.

Up until the new discovery was made, researchers generally thought that vocalization performed at any age is a direct function of the High Vocal Center (HVC). However, researchers Dr Fee, Dmitriy Aronov and Aaron S. Andalman have come to a different conclusion following a series of experiments performed on zebra finches. Their research showed that the HVC did not have any effect on babbling whatsoever, but rather that a different circuit entirely was involved. This circuit is known as the lateral magnocellular nucleus of the nidopallium (LMAN).

During the course of the experiments, the HVC was inactivated in both adult and young birds. When inactivated in the adult birds, the birds ceased singing but continued to vocalize. The sounds they uttered sounded similar to the random sounds made by baby birds. When the HVC in baby birds were deactivated, the baby birds continue to babble as they had previously. This proved that the LMAN circuit was responsible for helping the bird to learn the various vocalizations, while the HVC was responsible for producing that particular vocalization. It was further discovered that if the LMAN was damaged in any way in an immature bird still learning to sing, the bird could not learn to develop its call more fully. However, if an adult bird suffered damage to its LMAN, it would not affect its ability to sing already learned songs.

Scientists hope that the new findings will give insight into the far more complex human brain since there are certain similarities that are shared between a human brain and a bird’s brain. Baby birds seem to babble, much like human babies do, learning to mimic adult birdsong in a similar way to how human babies learn to mimic adult speech. The research shows that this learning pattern, and the final result of speech, is likely linked to two different mechanisms in the brain. More research is still being done to further refine the understanding of these mechanisms.

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Pigeon racing is a form of sport that was derived from post pigeons, as the pigeon is one species of bird that has been domesticated by humans for hundreds of years. Their magnificent ability to find their way home made them perfect messengers before telephones, airplanes and modern technology took over. These pigeons were able to fly great distances, deliver important messages and find their way home. Some pigeons are still used in the military, as they are the silent, unnoticed messengers of the sky.

Everyone is vaguely familiar with the sport of pigeon racing. We all know that a group of pigeons are taken to a specific location, set free and then they miraculously fly home. The question on most peoples’ minds is: How do they do it? And the answer to this question is quite simple really. Trainers exploit their natural abilities. Pigeons that live in the wild return to their nests or homes every night. They are able to familiarize themselves with certain landmarks in the area that enable them to find their way back to their nests. To train racing pigeons to return to their owner, young pigeons are put in the loft before they are able to fly. By doing this, they become accustomed to the loft as their home, and start to record the entrances to the loft and of the garden surrounding them. As time passes, the young bird will begin to recognize the whistle of the trainer as a command to leave the loft and one to return. These commands enable owners to train their racing pigeons for fitness and long distance traveling. Trainers are usually very secretive about their training methods, as they believe this is the key to their success, but one method used by all is ‘training tosses’. This is when a bird is taken a short distance from home and set free. All that is then left for the pigeon to do is survive the dangers of racing, such as predator birds, and fly home.

To compete in a racing event, racing pigeons are required to be tagged by a unique numbered ring that is placed on the birds’ legs when they are approximately five days old. The number is given to the clubhouse or race organizers and then, by GPS, the distance between the racepoint and the birds’ home is determined. Each bird is then fitted with an RFID transponder that records the time of the birds’ flight, through the Electric Timing System. Much like road-runners that cross the mats on the road to record their times, pigeons do the same when passing the specific antennas.

Breeding champion racing pigeons is another part of the sport that generates a lot if interest and income. To be able to find the correct breeding pair is very rare, and they will often be named as a unit, for instance “The Larkins Pair”. Some females are able to produce winners, no matter which male they mate with. Breeding is the luck of the draw.

The sport of pigeon racing has become popular across the world, with parts of Asia flying pigeons as a betting sport, where people can bet on the pigeon that they think will win the race. Other countries have established premier racing events, such as the Sun City Million Dollar Pigeon Race in South Africa, as pigeon racing has become as competitive and thrilling, as any other sport.

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A good homing pigeon quickly finds its way home, even when released hundreds (or thousands) of miles away. Owners attach small canisters to the birds’ legs, with paper messages inside. Once released, these domestic birds make a beeline for the coop they were raised in. They can cover hundreds of miles a day, flying up to 90mph.

Humans have used pigeon-messaging for at least 5000 years. Athletes in Greece’s first Olympic Games sent their families news of the scores via pigeon. More recently, 19th century news reporters used pigeons as a way to quickly relay news to the presses.

Homing pigeons also serve an essential function for armies. Pigeons can be carried to the front lines. Once released, they can fly over enemy troops and relay vital calls for help or supplies. Several national armies still use them today. Pigeon-messages can succeed when radio communications are unsafe or jammed.

Several pigeons played pivotal roles in battles. One famous bird is Word War II’s G.I. Joe, a homing pigeon that saved 1,000 British lives.

In 1943, British troops sent G.I. Joe home to the Allied Forces with news of their location in Italy. This location was about to be bombed, but the Allies cancelled the bombing run when the pigeon delivered its vital message. It received the Dickin Medal for its effort…the highest medal ever received by an animal in the armed forces.

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Certainly birds do a lot more singing and chirping in the spring and summer than any other time of the year because it’s breeding time. But as the weather cools in the fall, many birds continue chirping away. Still looking for a mate? Hardly. Researchers have discovered a physiological foundation specifically linked to testosterone, that keeps our feathered friends out on limb chirping away the hours.

In the spring and summer months, a high testosterone concentration is typical in many species and is known to increase singing and may also result in displays of territorial aggression (passerine). These same high levels of testosterone result in full-fledged “songs” rather than bits and pieces of melody.

As the seasons change and begin to cool off, not all species of birds migrate. Those species that stay behind tend to defend the same territory they used earlier for breeding. For example, Song Sparrows establish and defend winter territories which are maintained and defended by small groups of two or three individual birds made up of males and females.

So that singing you’re hearing on a cool crisp autumn day? Just the bird letting everyone know it’s going to be around for a while.

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