Birds sing at sunrise because it works. It is too dim to find food, the air is calm so song carries, and a loud song tells rivals and mates that the singer got through the night in good shape.
When to hear it
The RSPB puts the main season between mid-March and mid-June, with the peak in early May. The Woodland Trust gives the timing within the morning.
To hear it, set your alarm earlier than feels reasonable and open a window.
Who sings first
The chorus really does build bird by bird. This is the British picture, and other parts of the world have other early singers.
- FirstSong thrushes, blackbirds and robins, according to the RSPB.
- NextWrens, warblers and wood pigeons.
- LastGreat tits, blue tits, sparrows and finches, once there is enough light to see, says the Woodland Trust.
Four reasons they do it
There is no single answer. These are the explanations the RSPB and the Woodland Trust give:
Singing costs energy, especially after a cold night without food. A strong song says the male is healthy and holds a good territory.
At first light it is too dim to forage well, so singing is a decent use of the time.
Dawn air is usually still and quiet, so the song travels further.
Many summer visitors arrive overnight, and residents sing first thing to show who is in charge.
My own view is that these stack rather than compete. Dim light removes the alternatives, calm air makes the song worth the effort, and the audience of mates and rivals makes it matter. That is my reading, not a finding from either organisation.
Why this matters if you hate your alarm
I think a beep is a strange way to start a day, because it is designed to be annoying. A dawn chorus does the opposite: it builds slowly, one voice and then more.
I know of no study showing that waking to birdsong makes anyone feel better or wake up more easily. I go through what the research does say in the best alarm sound to wake up to. What I can offer is taste: I would rather be woken by something that arrives gradually.
That sound on your phone
I made Wakebird for this. It is an iPhone alarm clock that rings with real birdsong.
- 0 secondsOne bird starts softly.
- Over 29 secondsThe others join in.
- 2 minutes laterA second chorus starts, if you sleep on.
- AfterwardsThe app shows which birds woke you.
Get Wakebird on the App Store
It rings through iOS's own alarm system, so it still sounds on silent or in a Focus. It is a one-time purchase with no subscription. And if you would rather not install anything, go outside at first light in May and listen.
