Birds singing after a storm is a common phenomenon that many people have noticed. The songs can sound particularly loud and melodious after periods of wind, rain, thunder and lightning. But why exactly do birds sing following storms? There are a few key reasons.
To Re-Establish Territories
Stormy weather often blows birds into unusual places. Gusty winds may carry them into foreign areas or they may take shelter in unfamiliar trees and bushes. This can lead to confusion over their territories. Birds sing after storms to re-establish their territories and make their locations known. Loud, vivid songs alert rival males to the boundaries of territories. The more vigorous the storm, the more important it is for birds to sing and demarcate their spaces.
To Communicate With Their Species
Birds also sing after storms to communicate with other members of their species. Birds form social bonds and relationships through their songs. Storms can temporarily disrupt these connections. Once storms pass, birds sing to reconnect with mates, family members and others in their flocks. The songs indicate who is where and help scattered birds find each other again.
To Signal Safety
Singing is a signal that danger has passed. Storms are risky times for birds. The winds and rain can be deadly. Once storms end, birds recognize that the environment is safe again. Their instinct is to broadcast this safety through song. The lack of alarm calls and return of melodious songs indicates that all is well again. This allows other birds to also resume their normal routines.
To Attract Mates
After storms, when birds are re-establishing their territories and signalling safety, they also attract mates through their songs. Singing is key in courtship rituals. The vibrant performances after storms allow males to show off their vocal and physical talents to potential partners. This helps facilitate breeding and ensures future generations.
Why Do the Songs Sound Different?
Many notice that birds’ songs have different qualities after storms compared to on a normal day. Specifically, the songs often sound louder, livelier and more melodious. There are a few explanations for this.
Lack of Background Noise
Storms reduce background noise and disturbance. The winds, rainfall and thunder generate a lot of ambient noise. This masks much of what birds vocalize. After storms, the environment is quieter and calmer. With less background noise, birds’ songs stand out more. The notes are clearer and more audible to human ears.
Improved Air Quality
The air also tends to be cleaner after storms. Rainwashes pollutants and dust out of the atmosphere. This temporary improvement in air quality makes it easier for birds’ voices to travel smoothly and clearly. The crisp, purified air carries their songs farther with less obstruction.
Expending Extra Energy
Additionally, birds expend extra energy and effort on their post-storm singing. They are motivated to sing loudly and boldly to achieve goals like re-establishing territories and finding mates. This results in bolder, more vibrant vocal performances compared to a regular day. The enthusiasm and urgency birds feel after storms translate into livelier songs.
What Kinds of Birds Sing After Storms?
Many familiar backyard birds sing after storms. Some of the most common in North America include:
- Northern Cardinals
- Chickadees
- American Robins
- Blue Jays
- Mourning Doves
- House Finches
- Song Sparrows
- European Starlings
- Red-winged Blackbirds
- American Crows
More examples of birds that vocalize after storms include:
| Type of Bird | Examples |
|---|---|
| Backyard Birds | Tufted Titmice, Black-capped Chickadees, Downy Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens |
| Forest Birds | Ovenbirds, Wood Thrushes, Scarlet Tanagers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks |
| Water Birds | Mallard Ducks, Belted Kingfishers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Killdeer |
| Birds of Prey | Red-tailed Hawks, Bald Eagles, Ospreys |
The songs are most noticeable from common backyard birds because these species frequent neighborhoods and populated areas. However, many other kinds of birds also vocalize powerfully after storms pass.
Do All Birds Sing After Storms?
While many bird species sing more energetically after storms for the reasons described, not all birds necessarily sing in this way. Some exceptions include:
- Non-songbirds like hawks may vocalize but do not sing melodiously like songbirds.
- Nocturnal birds like owls vocalize at night rather than daytime when most storms happen.
- Some rare or endangered wetland birds may remain hidden and not vocalize.
- Wintering birds and migrants may be absent depending on the season.
- Some young birds may not sing until reaching adulthood.
Additionally, even among songbirds, individuals can vary in how they respond to storms. Not every bird sings loudly and persistently afterwards. The tendency to sing post-storm seems most common in territorial backyard birds defending nesting areas. But each bird has its own personality that determines its behavior.
Can Birds Sense Other Storms Coming?
Birds can sometimes detect approaching storms even before they arrive. Their senses may pick up on cues like:
- Smell – chemicals in the air changing as fronts approach
- Sounds – distant rumbles of thunder
- Sight – darkening clouds on the horizon
- Touch – wind speeds and air pressure shifts
- Instincts – innate abilities to detect shifts in weather
Birds may alter their behavior based on these cues. For example, they may start roosting earlier or delay feeding. Cues birds use to anticipate storms can include:
| Storm Sign | Behavioral Change |
|---|---|
| High winds | Settling low in trees, moving to sheltered spots |
| Drop in air pressure | Vocalizations, restlessness, disorientation |
| Approaching dark clouds | Feeding urgently, flocking together |
| Distant thunder | Silence or alarm calls |
However, birds’ storm detection abilities are imperfect. Sudden storms can still catch them by surprise. And predicting exact timings and intensities is difficult. So post-storm singing remains an important way for birds to regain order.
How Can I Observe This Behavior?
If you want to witness birds singing exuberantly after storms, here are some tips:
- Watch backyard feeders – Common species like chickadees become very vocal
- Get outside early morning – Dawn chorus is extra lively
- Listen on a quiet trail – Walk through a park or nature preserve
- Avoid windy days – Songs are clearer in calm conditions
- Be patient – It may take a few hours for normal activity to resume
- Use storm trackers – Apps to alert you to recent/approaching storms
Morning is often the best time as many birds follow dawn wake up calls with more intense songs. Areas like forest clearings and edge habitats also concentrate birds. Positioning yourself downwind can carry sounds better. And staying still improves your chances of hearing skittish birds. With some preparation, you can experience remarkable post-storm singing.
How Does This Behavior Help Birds?
Singing after storms provides a number of key benefits for birds:
- Reconnecting – Singing helps scattered birds reunite with mates/flocks
- Safety – Singing signals that the storm danger has passed
- Ownership – Singing stakes claims on nesting territories
- Breeding – More vigorous songs attract potential mates
- Food – Singing helps coordinate flock feeding efforts
- Shelter – Singing guides birds back to roosting/nesting spots
This important post-storm vocalization helps ensure birds survive the turbulence, reconnect, and successfully breed. The invigorated singing gets birds back on track after disruptive storm events. The benefits explain why so many diverse species perform these lively songs.
Interesting Examples
There are many intriguing reports about birds’ vocalizations during and after severe weather events:
- In April 2020, residents of Brooklyn, NYC reported hearing clear bird songs as the city quieted during the Covid crisis.
- During the solar eclipse of August 2017, birds went silent as the sky darkened, then resumed singing when light returned.
- In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Houston residents noted very loud bird songs as life re-emerged.
- After the derecho storm hit Iowa in 2020, people observed louder-than-normal bird vocalizations.
- Observers at ground zero of the Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980 remarked on the complete absence of birdsong in the devastated area.
These examples show how birds noticeably adjust singing and calling when natural disasters and unusual events occur. Their vocal behaviors reveal how they are experiencing the situation.
Questions for Future Research
Some questions remain about birds’ post-storm singing that require more scientific study, such as:
- How does singing vary if birds are migrating versus nesting when a storm hits?
- Do all species sing louder or do some become silent?
- What differences are there between adult and juvenile birds’ reactions?
- Does extra singing post-storm attract predators as well as mates?
- How long does the increased vocal activity last – hours, days, weeks?
Tracking individual birds with devices like radio tags could give insight. Recording and analyzing songs using software may reveal subtle impacts storms have. Citizen science projects could also help collect large data sets. Closer study would provide fuller understanding of this intriguing behavior.
Conclusion
Birds singing after storms is a common phenomenon noticed by many. The vigorous vocalizations are a response to disruption from winds, rain and turbulence. Songs help re-establish territories, signal safety, reconnect birds and attract mates. Backyard songbirds are most noticeable but many species sing strongly post-storm. Their loud melodies provide a comforting sign that normalcy is returning. Observing this remarkable behavior can be a silver lining, reminding us that just as the birds do, we too can recover, rebuild and go on singing.
