Study learns the real reason why birds sing so intensely at dawn
Earth.com • • science
Key Points:
- A new study on zebra finches reveals that their dawn singing is a biological rebound from nighttime silence, driven by hormonal changes and the release of built-up urge to sing when light returns.
- Researchers found that delaying morning light caused birds to sing more intensely, confirming that the dawn chorus results from suppression during darkness followed by a surge of energy at sunrise.
- Melatonin hormone levels drop before dawn, signaling readiness to sing, while light acts as a trigger, coordinating internal biological clocks with environmental cues for precise timing of the chorus.
- Morning songs serve as vocal exercise, helping birds regain vocal control and strength after silence, which also plays a role in mate attraction and territorial displays.
- The study supports the "rebound singing hypothesis
