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In 2001, I had an epiphany while making my first trip to Australia.

Walking across a remote sheep station in the dusty west, my ears were suddenly filled with the rich, spirited song of three .

Together, their voices wafted through the air like a hauntingly beautiful flute. That was the first time I encountered a trio of singing birds. I was instantly captivated.

Almost three decades later, I’ve built a career as a musician, composer and – someone who studies sound in animal culture.

That serendipitous experience sparked my quest to understand how songbirds and why birdsong so deeply.

The origins of songbirds

There are at least of songbirds, also known as , which together make up nearly half of the world’s . This includes familiar and much-loved species like , and .

Birdsong research has long focused on the . However, DNA evidence from a major turned this upside down. It revealed that all songbirds originated in Australia, before spreading across the world. Tim Low’s best-selling book, (2017), did much to popularise this research.

refined this picture, suggesting early songbirds radiated out from – the ancient supercontinent that included Australia, Antarctica and South America. The well-known lyrebird and the rare, ground-dwelling scrub-bird are thought to be the Australian songbirds with the .

Today, songbird hotspots are scattered across the globe.

South and Central America – particularly Colombia, Peru and Costa Rica – are famed for their . New Guinea is home to , whose strikingly colourful displays scientists and artists alike.

Europe’s spring chorus – sustained by blackbirds, thrushes and nightingales – features widely in and . And in North America, birders prize the of the hermit thrush and the wood thrush’s .

Learning to sing

These melody-making birds share a rare gift: they learn their songs from parents and peers. This process is known as .

Among birds, only parrots, hummingbirds and are vocal learners. are the sole primate that falls into this category, capable of imitating, altering and learning from the sounds we hear. , and are also vocal learners.

Birdsong is often framed as a tool males use for a territory or a female’s attention. Birdsong does serve these two . However, some birds produce sounds infinitely more beautiful and complex than what’s strictly needed to retain a territory or attract a mate.

It’s worth noting songs are not the same as calls. While birds must learn to sing, they have a relatively to call. are short, meaningful sounds that help birds do everything from feeding to nesting and flocking, where birds gather to collectively forage or travel.

How birdsong affects us

Many people turn to birdsong as a way to with nature. But listening to birdsong isn’t just pleasurable.

Research suggests it can reduce stress, improve anxiety and even sharpen attention. One suggests listening to birdsong for just six minutes improves mental wellbeing. Another found that when people tuned into natural soundscapes – such as birdsong or the sound of fast-flowing water – their blood pressure and heart rate lowered.

Many people instinctively know this. Consider how often birdsong features in meditation apps, in films or even at shopping centres.

Hearing a wild bird’s song is both ordinary and majestic. Ordinary because songbirds aren’t usually surrounded by sweeping vistas – instead they may be perched on a power line or hidden high in a tree. It’s also majestic because people are often deeply moved by these encounters. A single song can lift the mood of a morning.

Where to listen

Thankfully, you don’t need to traverse the world to tune into birdsong.

Australia is rich in birdwatching opportunities, particularly in the north and east of the country. If you’re unsure where to go, you can visit Australian Geographic’s website. You can also find songbird hotspots in Australia and abroad using Birdingplaces’ interactive .

You don’t even need a car. Dawn is when birds are , so you may encounter a songbird if you step out early. It also pays to walk near water, where vegetation is dense and insects plentiful. But many avian singers in suburbs and urban parks.

Once you start hearing and observing birds, you will inevitably want to identify them. An abundance of online tools can help. A free option is , which allows birders of all stripes to identify and document species. is another resource.

You don’t need to identify a bird to enjoy its contribution to the dawn chorus. Just slowing down and listening is a good start.

Hero photo: Adobe Stock