Put the kettle on for International Dawn Chorus Day

3 min read
Put the kettle on for International Dawn Chorus Day

In early May, we celebrate International Dawn Chorus Day, when the beautiful sound of early morning birdsong reaches its peak. There are few things as beautiful to listen to as birdsong, and this is one musical performance you don’t need to dress up (or even leave your house) for. Whether you enjoy International Dawn Chorus Day from the comfort of your own home or head to a local nature reserve to listen with others, it is a brilliant way to connect with wildlife and enjoy the promise of a spring morning. International Dawn Chorus Day has its roots in Birmingham. The celebration started in the 1980s and is now a global phenomenon, celebrated in over eighty countries. You don’t have to live in the wilderness to connect with wildlife during International Dawn Chorus Day - there will be plenty to hear in towns and cities too, so set an alarm, get the kettle on and bring in the birds this May!

Why do birds sing?

Male songbirds sing either to establish and protect a territory or to attract a mate (although birds also have a repertoire of warning and contact calls too). Each species has its own unique song - even when two birds look almost identical to the eye, they can be distinguished by the ear. A bird’s territory is more than his home - it’s everything to him. Without territory, there will be no mate, and without a mate he won’t breed, so birdsong is a bird’s important first line of defence to ensure he gives his species the best chance of survival.

Why do birds sing at dawn?

There are a few theories. At dawn it is cool and the air is still, which is thought to allow the birds’ song to travel further than during the day. Another theory is that birds will be naturally woken at dawn, but it won’t yet be light enough to search for food, and insects won’t be awake yet, so there isn’t much else to do other than sing. There are also predators to consider - if you’re going to draw attention to yourself by singing loudly, it’s probably best to do so before other animals are awake. Birds might also start singing early as a way to advertise their strength as a potential suitor - singing takes a lot of energy and only the strongest and best-fed bird can sing loudly before he’s even had breakfast!

Which birds can I hear?

Birds reliably start singing in a sequence, coming in like instruments in the orchestra. The first birds you’ll hear in the UK are generally robins (who are the last to stop singing at night too) joined by blackbirds, wrens, chaffinches, pheasants, warblers, blackcaps, song thrushes, dunnocks and goldfinches. Different habitats will bring different species - you might also hear house sparrows, wood pigeons and gulls in urban areas, reed buntings and bitterns in wetlands and skylarks and redshanks in moorlands.

What makes a good song?

Birdsong carries best when sung from the tops of trees, and this is also a great way for male birds to show their strength - when they sing from an exposed area they show they aren’t afraid of predators. A bird might mimic the song of another species to show how well-travelled he is and how many breeding seasons he has survived. Great tits and chaffinches have a wide repertoire of songs and scientists have found that the more different varieties of song a bird has in his repertoire, the more likely a female is to want to pair up - a varied repertoire indicates a stronger bird.

How can I learn to identify birds?

The best birdsong book I can recommend is Birdwatching With Your Eyes Closed by Simon Barnes. It’s packed with information but written in such a chatty style that reading it feels easy. He introduces the birds one by one and there’s an accompanying podcast which allows you to put a song to the name and description. I also love Birdsong Lessons with Lucy Lapwing on YouTube - Lucy makes great suggestions to help you remember which song belongs to which bird. Read more about learning to identify your garden birds in our blog.

To enjoy International Dawn Chorus Day, aim to get up around an hour before sunrise - by 6.30am it will already have died down, so get your coffee ready by 5am to hear the birds in their full glory.

Thank you for reading!

Clare Cahill is an enthusiastic bird lover with a passion for observing and learning about the incredible variety of birds around us. While she doesn’t have a formal degree in ornithology, Clare has dedicated countless hours to reading birding books and exploring nature, constantly expanding her knowledge and deepening her love for wildlife.

For Clare, birdwatching brings a sense of calm and connection to the world, offering a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. She believes that the more we connect with nature, the more we can do to protect and conserve it. Through her writing, Clare hopes to inspire others to take a moment to pause, look up, and appreciate the wonderful birds that share our spaces.

About A Little Bird Co.

The seasonal bird food brand

We're a little company, supporting little birds. Find out more about what sets us apart.

  • Seasonal

    Birds have different dietary needs throughout the year, from nesting to moulting and surviving colder months. To support these changes, we’ve created seasonal blends – order a Seasonal Bird Food bag, and we’ll adjust the blend to match the season, making it easy to do something great for the birds.

  • Sustainable

    Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We don't farm, process, and transport cheap filler ingredients that birds simply kick to the floor. Instead, we focus on premium ingredients they love. Our packaging is compostable, and our bird feeders and nest boxes are tested for durability and longevity.

  • Songbird

    We design our food and select our range of feeders with little birds in mind. Every ingredient in our blends is chosen because small birds love it, simplifying your bird feeding routine. Our feeders provide safe access to food while helping to keep out larger, more dominant species. Look out for robins, blue tits, wrens, finches and more visiting your garden for our food.

  • Support

    With birds in your garden, you’re never alone - they’re the friends who always visit. Feeding them supports wildlife conservation while bringing joy and calm. Whether spotting a new species or simply watching their daily routines, just ten minutes a day strengthens your connection with nature and boosts your wellbeing.

When life feels busy, the birds keep it simple.

There’s something lovely about how feeding the birds becomes part of the rhythm of your day. A scoop of seed, a clean dish of water - and then a pause, just to watch who turns up. It doesn’t have to take long, but those moments can be surprisingly grounding. A little burst of mindfulness, fresh air, a chance to notice your garden as it changes throughout the seasons, and the cheerful flutter of wings - it’s good for the soul.

Join our flock of bird enthusiasts who share a passion for sustainable and thoughtful bird feeding.

Start Your Bird Food Subscription

Shop our bestsellers

From our popular seasonal bird food to the Squirrel Buster squirrel resistant bird feeder, our range is designed to help you to create a haven for little birds in your garden.