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Birding/why why why must the robin sing at 3:56 a.m.?

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Expert: - 6/4/2009


Question
What on earth does this accomplish? Is it just showing off? Is it just happy to be awake? It starts singing that damn -- I mean lovely -- song every morning at 3:56 a.m. When no one else is up. It doesn't sound like a warning or territorial kind of call or anything, just a "Hey, I'm here! la la la!" I'm resigned to it (there are at least three robins I've seen around here, I figure there's a nest somewhere though I haven't spotted it) but I just want to know -- WHY, for pete's sake, little robin, WHY?! Who (does it think) is listening?? Does it win a bird prize for singing the earliest?

Answer
All songbirds sing when there is a certain amount of light; some sing earlier or later than others and on cloudy days they all sing later. Singing is important in attracting mates and defending their territory. Calls are to communicate with mates; songs are territory defense. Might I suggest ear plugs?

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Roger Lederer

Expertise

Any and all about WILD birds - the science of ornithology. Information about birdwatching, ecology, conservation, migration, behavior, banding, rehabilitation, feeding, songs, binoculars, identification, and careers in ornithology. No questions about pet or caged birds, please.

Experience

Have a PhD and over forty years as a professional ornithologist - research, teaching, author, speaker, webmaster of Ornithology.com . Have written thirty scientific papers, three bird field guides, a textbook in ecology and two recent books entitled "Amazing Birds" and "Birds of New England". Have traveled to over 90 countries watching birds.

Education/Credentials
PhD in Zoology/Ornithology; Emeritus Professor of Biological Sciences; former Dean of the College of Natural Sciences at California State University, Chico

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