THE dawn chorus is a sign that spring is here.
From March to July, birds regale us with their singing. Here's why we hear birds chirping at dawn.
Why do birds sing in the morning?
When spring arrives, so does the sound of birdsong in our gardens.
The singing is typically carried out by the male, with the strongest and best-fed birds able to sing the loudest.
Birds tend to sing in the morning for many reasons.
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Firstly, male birds use their song to show females how healthy and fit they are.
They use their cheerful tunes to attract a mate.
Spring is a time for finding a partner and breeding, so they sing to warn off rival male birds.
Also, at dawn there is less noise, so the birds can show off their songs better.
They also use their singing to defend their territory and protect their families.
Which birds sing in the morning?
Birds sing a range of songs at dawn, starting 30 minutes before sunrise.
Blackbirds, thrushes and robins are the early risers greeting the emerging sunlight with their tunes.
After pre-dawn, they are joined by warblers, wrens, and woodpigeons add their voices.
Great tits, blue tits, sparrows and finches only join in once it is light enough for them to see.
They can be heard from March through to July, but the peak occurs in May and June, when migrant birds such as chiffchaffs and blackcaps add to the chorus.
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The best place to hear these chirps are green spaces such as the countryside, woodland, and nature reserves.
However, birds live everywhere so you can still enjoy the birdsong in urban areas where they live in trees and bushes.
The best time to listen is 30 minutes before sunrise and up to 30 minutes after dawn.
Early risers will be rewarded with the best songs.
However, birds are also known to sing at night.
What does it mean when birds chirp a lot?
There are various different reasons why birds chirp a lot.
It could be communication, warnings, indicating danger, or just singing.
The syllable and the tone vary between the chirps to indicate the different types of communication.
Blackbirds can often be heard in gardens with a harsh sound on one note.
This is usually indicating either yourself or a predator such as a cat is too close to their nest or young.