Birds that chirp in the morning are early risers getting ready for their day to start. The early hours of the day are usually too dark for them to start foraging and safer from predators that aren’t hunting yet. They can sing for various reasons, including defending their territory, communicating, attracting mates, or raising their chicks.
Scientists call the collective chirps, tweets, and singing of morning birds the “dawn chorus.” The dawn chorus can begin as early as 4 am and last for several hours. The chorus is typically at its height, with multiple birds contributing, around 30 minutes before and after sunrise. So, what birds are part of the dawn chorus and what do they sound like? Let’s find out!
13 Birds That Chirp in the Morning
Here are 13 birds you can hear chirping in the early morning hours and how to identify them if you’re listening to the dawn chorus.
1. Gartered Trogon
Scientific name: Trogon caligatus
The gartered trogon is a colorful bird that chirps a rolling chattering sound or sings a long series of hollow and rapid notes sounding like kyu-kyu-kyu. These birds have very large, yellow-ringed eyes allowing them to see well in low light and also be among the first to contribute to the dawn chorus before sunrise.
You can find the gartered trogon in humid areas, such as tropical lowland forests. Their range includes central Mexico, Central America, Columbia, and down to Peru and Venezuela.
2. Red-winged Blackbird
Scientific name: Agelaius phoeniceus
Red-winged blackbirds are another species that will sing early before dawn and even sing under artificial light. Males produce the commonly heard song, a “conk-la-reee” starting with an abrupt note and ending in a trill. Red-winged blackbirds are most common in marshes and wetlands, but also be found in fields, or just about anywhere.
They can be found throughout the U.S. all year, and throughout Canada during the summer months. Some travel to the southern states or even Mexico for the winter. In areas with temperate climates, you can hear them singing throughout the year. They get their name from the red shoulder patch that stands out against their black bodies.
In other parts of the world such as Europe and North Africa, the common blackbird is also one of the first songsters in the early morning hours.