How do our garden birds communicate?
Our feathered friends have quite a sophisticated way of communicating with one another and it’s not all about singing! No, they use different calls, movements, song and body language. . .
Here are the main methods of avian messaging:
Song
Birdsong is predominantly a man thing! Males use it to flag up their territory and attract a mate. Robins, for example, will sing from a tree branch, staking their claim and telling other robins to keep their distance.
Contact calls
These short and sweet calls help birds to keep in touch when they’re feeding or foraging. Blue tits are brilliant at this and can often be seen firing little contact calls to one another.
Sounding alarms
Birds have a specific call for danger and will use it when predators such as sparrowhawks are close by. A sharp, rapid call will alert birds in the vicinity and amazingly, birds of different species will often understand and join in mobbing a predator.
Begging
Young birds are extremely noisy when begging for food, leaving their parents in no doubt whatsoever how hungry they are. In August, you will often see fledglings following their parents around the garden making insistent calls.
Keeping family ties
Quiet calls are used by pairs to keep track of one another, as do parents and fledglings when they’re hidden in vegetation.
Body language
It’s not just sound. Birds communicate with body language too. A robin, for example, will puff itself up and posture when squaring up to another robin. Great tits and blue tits act in a similar way, using wing and tail movement to show aggression or submission.
Who are the best communicators?
Among our garden birds, some are more impressive communicators than others. Here’s our list of the top talkers:
1 - Great tit
They have a large repertoire of songs and calls, and can alter them depending on the situation.
2 - Robin
A brilliant communicator when defending territory. With a clear song, which carries for quite a distance, their warning signals and aggressive calls are heard all over the garden.
3 – Blackbird
Superb songsters, their flute-like calls are rich and varied, and used to defend territory, attract mates and issue sharp alarm calls when danger is close.
4 – Blue tit
Very vocal and constantly exchanging contact calls when moving through bushes or keeping track of youngsters.
5 – House sparrow
Groups communicate with a mixture of chirps, calls and alarm signals.
6 – Long-tailed tit
The best at keeping their families together, they make soft, high-pitched contact calls as they move through trees and bushes.
7 – Dunnock
Quieter, but with songs and calls to establish territories and communicate with potential mates as part of its complex social life.