Explain why birds sing at dawn?

To establish and defend their territory.

The song of birds at dawn mainly serves to signal to others that a territory is already occupied. A territory rich in food and good nesting sites inevitably attracts a lot of interest. To avoid exhausting physical conflicts, the bird sings vigorously at daybreak. This song acts as a real sound barrier to warn other individuals that it is better to go their own way. The louder and longer the bird sings, the more robust and determined it appears to potential rivals. This helps to limit direct confrontations, as others naturally avoid territories where the owner seems solid and motivated.

To seduce and attract a partner

The morning song of birds is primarily an effective means of seduction. During this time, males double their energy and demonstrate their worth through their voices: the more varied, loud, and melodious their song, the more they clearly signal their good physical condition and genetic qualities to females. This allows them to be noticed without having to expose themselves too much visually. Essentially, a beautiful song attracts better than beautiful plumage, especially in the twilight of dawn. Females carefully evaluate these vocal performances before choosing their mate: a male who masters his song perfectly has a much better chance of passing on his genes to the next generation.

To announce the start of their daily activities.

At dawn, the birds set the natural rhythm by clearly signaling the hour of activity. Their morning songs then function as a biological clock, indicating to the group that it is time to go out foraging or to resume nest care. By singing at this precise moment, they also stimulate their bodies, boosting their energy level as well as their alertness before embarking on a long day of flying, hunting, or caring for the young. It’s their way of saying, "Alright, everyone up!"

To communicate and synchronize their behaviors in a group.

Birds use their morning songs as a kind of collective signal to coordinate their movements and activities. It allows them to quickly know who is there, who is doing what, and to start the day together at the right time. They synchronize their departure to feeding areas or other strategic locations. This collective concert makes their daily life more efficient: everyone leaves at the right moment, in the right direction, without unnecessarily scattering.

To reduce the risks from nocturnal predators.

Singing at dawn allows birds to best avoid nocturnal predators. Most of these predators, like owls, primarily hunt at night and significantly reduce their activity at dusk and dawn. At this precise moment, there is a lull: the threat diminishes, but the light is still too weak for many other diurnal predators to hunt effectively. In short, it’s the ideal window to sing without too much risk of being spotted by those lurking. It's as if they take advantage of a strategic transition of the day to send their message without ending up on the menu.