Hello. Hello. Hello.
Many readers have asked me about bird voices. Did you know
that birds do not have a larynx, or voice box, like people? We have a syrinx,
which sets much lower in our bodies. It can be found at the bottom of the
trachea but right above both bronchi tubes, which are the passageways to the
lungs. Because the syrinx has two airways joining it, birds can sing two notes
at one time. We do not have to sing a duet with another bird. We can sing a
duet with ourselves!
When it comes to sounds, we (birds) have three sets of
sounds: chips, songs, and calls.
Chip notes are short, quick, and high-pitched. These notes help us to know where our mates or flock friends
are or that we have found food. Songs
are sung to attract a mate, establish territory, or sometimes during flight.
These songs are very complex, and many times, we sing more than one note at a
time. Birds are so talented!
Some songs, we are born knowing. Some songs we have to learn
from our parents. You may sometimes hear baby birds practice their songs, just
like you may practice singing or playing an instrument. Sometimes mistakes are
made, but they practice, practice, practice, until they learn how to sing the
song right.
Have you noticed that people in different parts of the United
States speak differently? They have regional dialects. Birds can have dialects,
too. A Northern Cardinal song in New York may sound slightly different from the
Northern Cardinal song in Alabama. Therefore, you really need to find song recordings of birds
from your area! When I or my family (mockingbirds) sing, we repeat our songs
three times.
Bye, Bye, Bye!
If you would like more details about bird voices, check out
these web sites:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/studying/birdsongs/sounds
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