Every morning at about 7 since late February, the cardinal has been singing its “Cheer, cheer, cheer” song in my yard. Now the American robin is singing, “Cheerily, cheerio,” adding to the growing chorus and foreshadowing a spring replete with blooms.
Describing bird song in words is as difficult as doing so with orchestral compositions.
Ornithologists use mnemonics, phrases that are similar to what a human hears when a bird sings. But is it a coincidence that both the cardinal’s and the robin’s mnemonics include the word “cheer” because they start singing in early spring?
No matter, when the amount of daylight lengthens, birds begin to sing, stimulated by hormones that indicate it’s nesting time.
– Original Credit: News-Sun
Bird song is what I love most about spring. It’s floating in the air everywhere, and now’s the time to start listening, because as spring advances, many more birds arrive from the south and add their buzzes, trills and melodies create a complex outdoor concert. And that can make it difficult to pick out each individual song.
Bird song is different from bird call. Birds call year-round to communicate with one another, whether it be to announce a good feeding spot and alert the presence of a predator. The black-capped chickadee that says, “chicka-dee-dee-dee” is calling. But sometime in February or March, it starts to sing its whistled, “Hey, sweetie” song.
Birds sing a particular group of notes and cadences when it’s time to court, mate and breed – songs attract mates as well as deter unwanted birds from entering territory.
Cardinals, doves, robins, chickadees vocal in neighborhoods
You can hear bird song everywhere in early spring, including in your own back yard. Among the most common is the northern cardinal. The male is bright red with a crest, black face and orange bill. The female is similar but with a brownish body.
One-hundred years ago, those living in northern Illinois would not have heard a cardinal sing. Back then its range was farther south – but as bird feeding became popular, cardinals found they could live in colder climes where seeds and other goodies were available. Now they’re a permanent fixture here.
Unlike most bird species, both the male and female cardinal sing. Retired Illinois Natural History Survey biologist David Enstrom researched cardinal songs, discovering males make 30 different sounds, while females make about 24. Some of these songs sound like, “Cheer, cheer, cheer,” or “Birdie. Birdie. Birdie. Birdie,” or “Right here, cheer, cheer cheer.”
Besides singing to court, male and female cardinals often feed each. If you’ve got a feeder you can watch this activity right now. Cardinals place their cup nests of twigs, vine, leaves and rootlets in shrubs, vine tangles or in conifers fairly low to the ground.
Another common bird singing now is the mourning dove. Some think they’re hearing an owl sing during the day as the dove utters six “who” syllables in a minor key – hence the name “mourning.” This brownish bird has gray wings, a long tail and dark patch below the ear. Mourning doves build flimsy nests from twigs and may breed two or three times a year. Legend says, despite its sorrowful song, the mourning dove symbolizes hope and renewal.
– Original Credit: News-Sun
Mourning doves and cardinals live in northern Illinois year-round – and so does the American robin – though in fewer numbers. Robins will hang around in northern Illinois if they can find berries to eat. As it warms up outside and the ground thaws they head back to suburban yards to pluck worms out of the soil.
They often sing at dusk their “Cheerily, cheerio,” messages. American robins build nests of twig and mud – placing them in trees, shrubs, and even lamp posts. Mourning doves also aren’t too particularly about where they place their nests. If one of these birds builds a nest in your space, why not sit back and watch the show from a distance as the adults brood, raise and feed their young?
Black-capped chickadees nest in cavities including manmade birdhouses and old woodpecker holes. The female uses moss and rabbit fur to build the nest. Look for a tiny bird with a black cap and throat and white body.
Here are some links to bird songs and calls of these four familiar backyard birds.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Mourning_Dove/sounds
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Cardinal/sounds
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https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Robin/sounds
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-capped_Chickadee/sounds
Forest preserves remain open, but all programs canceled
Due to the coronavirus, the Lake County Forest Preserves has canceled all its programs and workdays through March 31, including the popular maple syrup hikes. The preserves remain open. For updated information, visit https://www.lcfpd.org/current-closures-and-cancellations.
Sheryl DeVore has worked as a full-time and freelance reporter and editor for the baiduhai and its subsidiaries. She’s the author of several books on nature and the environment. Send story ideas and thoughts to [email protected].