birds singing at night

[almostnormal]

this has come up a bit, but have just read this story and thought it was quite interesting. apparently birds can't hear themselves think in urban areas.

BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | City birds sing for silent nights

its an interesting read and might explain why we're all hearing the birds at an odd time of day!

[nightshade]

I often wondered and just assumed it was because they could thanks for that
Do they sleep during the day I wonder?

[Kymba]

Thanks for that, interesting read.... I presummed it was because of the light mornings.. I regularly get woken up by singing Birds only to find it is the early hours of the morning..thought they had forgotten to put their clocks forward last month

[rlchew]

Thanks for the link.

Yes, that is an interesting alternative theory but it does not explain wht some species sing in the same location during the day and at night.

Richard

[kaz]

We live in the country and do not suffer from noise pollution during the day OR light pollution at night and we still have birds singing at night

[almostnormal]

there are holes in every theory, even evolution, but since we also live in the suburban area and our birds also sing their little hearts out all night i assume there are other factors affecting our birdies singing. no idea what they are though, and wouldn't like to venture any serious opinions on the subject. possibly at certain times of year the competition for female birds is pretty stiff and the longer male birds sing for the more likely they are to attract a mate? i kow that lekkin birds are incredibly competitive about their displays because its the females that make the decisions, perhaps a similar thing is going on with the singing?