#THE WITNESS BIRD CALLS SERIES#

But why do birds usually showcase their vocal talents at this time of the day? The answer comes down to simple “vanity”: it is so they appear to be fit and healthy. The singing of birds in the morning signals a pleasant awakening. These sounds are highly musical, especially when they announce the passage of flocks during migration season. Similarly, birds have specific calls that are only used during flight – and, interestingly, these are the most accurate calls to go by when trying to identify different species. We have business calls – the ones where you use a more formal tone because etiquette demands it. These calls are characterised by moderately strong chirps, similar to a “hum” but not as penetrating as the warning calls. They use contact calls when they travel in flocks, want to call each other or even just share news about a good food source. “Hey, are you all right?” Contact calls for birds are more or less the equivalent of us making sure a friend is ok. Small birds frequently continue to use these calls after leaving the nest too – because mom is always mom! The call intensity is low, but it can still be clearly perceived in the vicinity of a nest.

“Mom Mom Mom!” Just as children call for their mother with arms outstretched, small birds emit little moans and chirps to attract their mother’s attention, often flapping their wings for good measure.

The same sound is often used by predatory birds as part of their attack. They are usually short sounds strong enough to be heard at great distances. These involve sharp and penetrating sounds – warning signals used by birds whenever they feel threatened and want to warn companions of danger. Each sound has a different purpose and this, in turn, makes it possible for birds to communicate with each other in different circumstances. Its structure – which varies with each species – makes such different songs and sounds possible.

#THE WITNESS BIRD CALLS SERIES#

Just as vowels and consonants provide the foundation for our words and sentences, birds produce a series of calls, songs and melodies in a ‘language’ so nuanced it could rival our very own alphabet! This is all thanks to a special vocal organ called the syrinx – the size of a pea, it sits at the junction of the trachea and the bronchi in the lungs.

The witness bird calls