Songs and calls: what is the difference?

Birds make two broad kinds of sound. Songs are usually longer and more complex, given mainly in the breeding season to defend a territory and attract a mate. Calls are short and simple, used all year to keep in contact, sound an alarm or stay together in flight.

In temperate regions most singing is done by males, but in many tropical species females sing too, often in duets with their mates.

The syrinx

Birds do not sing with a larynx like ours. They use the syrinx, an organ where the windpipe divides into the two bronchi. Because each side can be controlled separately, some songbirds can produce two different notes at the same time.

Why it matters in the field

Many forest birds are heard far more often than seen. Learning the common calls around you is the fastest way to find more birds and to notice when something unusual is present.