Decoding the Dawn Chorus
- Bethany Akhtar
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
With the upcoming arrival of International Dawn Chorus Day, Bethany Akhtar unravels what the dawn chorus really means and how it could be impacted by climate change for years to come.
Each year, the first Sunday of May is dedicated to the chorus of birdsong that can be heard each day at dawn. While it is often enjoyed (or sometimes found unpleasant!) for its various tunes, tones and melodies, it has a much more practical, underlying purpose for the survival of birds across the world, and even some benefits for us!
A female red-winged blackbird at dawn. Image credit: Steve Smith on Unsplash
Why does the dawn chorus occur?
On the one hand, the dawn chorus is simply a method of attracting a mate. This is why the majority of morning bird songs are carried out by males, who compete to make the loudest sounds to prove their compatibility with females. Essentially, the louder the song, the more fit, strong and healthy the male is, indicating to females that he is ideal for raising healthy chicks and defending a home territory.
This explains why International Dawn Chorus Day takes place on the first Sunday of May, as it marks the beginning of the breeding season (mid-March to early May). As a result, it’s the most ideal time to listen out for the dawn chorus.
The dawn chorus is also an effective way of establishing territory; a loud and powerful song acts as a deterrent to other males who may try to claim the area as their own. This territoriality explains why some birds can be heard year-round, like robins and wrens.
From a physiological standpoint, however, the dawn chorus is induced by the warmer weather and increasing day-lengths, which help to cause a rush of hormones in males to kick-start the mating season.
Why is the dawn chorus sung so early in the morning?
Aside from being an effective wake-up call, the reason that birds sing so early is due to the advantageous time of day.
Firstly, there is less risk of being caught by predators at dawn as it is too dark to be spotted. There is also a lack of wind and daytime noise, creating a better range for birdsong to be heard. In particular, the lack of disruption ensures that male birdsong can be heard over longer distances, which is highly beneficial for attracting a mate or establishing territory when competing with so many other birds!
It is better to start singing earlier, rather than later; when new arrivals have moved in the night before, it is highly favourable to establish existing authority, otherwise valuable territory and a chance with a female could be lost to newcomers.
What species can be heard in the UK?
According to the RSPB, birds such as robins, thrushes and blackbirds are some of the first birds that can be heard at dawn, but as the morning progresses it becomes easier to hear a wider variety of native birds like wrens, warblers and the beloved wood pigeon (depending on who you ask!).
Having said this, the species you hear will be dependent on location. For example, near heathland you may hear Linnets or Cuckoos, but by waterfronts you are much more likely to hear moorhens, mallards and geese.
One of the easiest-to-identify bird songs in the UK is the chiffchaff’s, which is exactly as the name implies - a highly repetitive “chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff” sound. Robins are also quite distinct with their sweet, high-pitched melodies, as well as song thrushes, which have another high-pitched but very repetitive call where phrases are repeated two or three times.
The benefits of listening to birdsong for us
Whilst the dawn chorus is a key method of survival and finding love, it is also a comforting and relaxing sound to many. Taking a moment to listen in can teach us the benefits of slowing down and spending time in nature for our health. In fact, listening to birdsong has been shown to calm the nervous system and reduce the effects of stress, which is something we could all benefit from in our fast-moving world!
Moreover, listening to birdsong is a great way of potentially increasing our happiness and well-being. A recent study found that listening to 6-minute recordings of birdsong reduced feelings of anxiety, depression and paranoia across 295 participants, whereas listening to recordings of traffic noise was connected to a significant increase in depression. Evidently, there may be some serious benefits of birdsong for our mental well-being!
How could climate change alter the dawn chorus?
Birds are highly sensitive to changes in the environment, making them great indicators of environmental health, including changes in the climate. However, this also means they are vulnerable to climate change, which is one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss across the world.
Sadly, there is increasing evidence that climate change negatively affects global bird populations, causing serious implications for reproduction success, community structures and putting 7% of birds at risk of extinction. One of the most well-known ways that climate change influences birds is through changing their migration patterns, for example, by reducing food sources like fish, eradicated by warmer temperatures, which limits their ability to make full, migratory journeys.
Climate change may also alter the future of the dawn chorus. Climate modelling has predicted that early morning temperatures may become suboptimal for vocal communication due to warmer temperatures at night, which may shift singing times to even earlier in the morning when light levels and foraging abilities are lower.
Drier and hotter weather conditions will also result in reduced access to essential resources like food and water, which is likely to decrease energy supply for singing as more time and energy goes into foraging and heat regulation. As a result, the effectiveness of the dawn chorus as a method of mating and territorial communication is likely to decrease.
Spring migration of geese to the North. Image Credit: Andrus Lukas on Unsplash
What does this mean for the future of bird conservation?
With climate change posing a serious threat to the functioning and survival of birds, conservation efforts are absolutely crucial to keep bird populations in check. Upcoming efforts focus on habitat protection and restoration, such as protecting Important Bird Areas (IBAs) and creating suitable outdoor spaces for birds in cities. Reducing carbon emissions to directly mitigate threats due to climate change is another significant focus point.
An upcoming campaign in May, World Migratory Bird Day 2025, will be advocating for strategic urban planning and bird-friendly practices like reducing city pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and creating healthier habitats, in order to create more favourable conditions for migratory birds.
However, it can be easy to contribute to conservation efforts from your own home: reducing your individual carbon footprint to mitigate climate change, planting hedgerows and participating in bird surveys or local habitat restoration projects are just a few great ways to support and monitor bird populations.
Are there ways to get involved with Dawn Chorus Day?
Aside from setting the alarm clock for an early wakeup call and listening to the birds in your area, there are a few, organized ways that you can get involved with the day.
Each year, The Wildlife Trusts host nature reserve walks on Dawn Chorus Day morning, which are hosted across the UK and are free to attend. Joining a walk is a great way of finding out what birds are local to you and meeting like-minded people who share a love for birds and nature.
Alternatively, for those who can’t make it (or understandably don’t want to leave their beds!), there will be a livestream of the dawn chorus held on their dawn chorus webpage, which also details the locations and timings of the walks.
Regardless of whether you plan on joining the early bird on the 4th of May, hopefully the meaning and importance of the dawn chorus is a little bit clearer, from acting as territorial defence and an effective mating call, to aiding human well-being and happiness. With these benefits in mind, you might consider listening out for the birds around you, or making a few meaningful changes to help support the future of many of the UK’s beloved birds.
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