Zebra finches are commonly studied in captivity by biologists. Image courtesy of Alamy
Joel Kontinen
Why do birds sing in the morning? Perhaps they like to sing at that time of day. God has given us much pleasure in nature.
Birds all over the world break into a dawn chorus every
morning – now experiments in zebra finches suggest both a mechanistic and a
functional explanation for this phenomenon.
The dawn chorus of birdsong has inspired poets and nature
lovers for thousands of years, but the reason why birds all over the world
start the day this way is an enduring mystery.
Now, a series of experiments in zebra finches (Taeniopygia
guttata) suggests that while darkness inhibits singing, birds build up a
stronger motivation to sing in the night that causes them to burst into song
when the dawn breaks. The study also hints that a morning workout for the vocal
muscles helps birds finesse their songs.
James Woodford 2025
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