One of the coolest things about this time of year is that birds, especially robins, start singing around 3:30 in the morning. If you have your window open at that time of day, you are treated to songs and whistles and squawks. Those bird sounds are layered, one on top of another, like a lasagna of songs.
What some birds lack in tunefulness, they make up for with enthusiasm. Who could find a grackle’s song appealing? Probably not even a lady grackle who may be admiring his feathers, but is secretly wishing he would just shut up. Grackles are like guys at a karaoke bar.
They are preening and strutting, hitting a note or two, and hoping some chick thinks they are cool. Birds are divided up between songbirds and non-songbirds. Bird scientists call songbirds passerines, and non-songbirds non-passerines.
Not real creative of the bird scientists on that one. Wonder if they go to science conventions wearing shirts that say, “We’re ornithologists, and you are non-ornithologists.” Passerines have a specialized larynx, called a syrinx, which makes them able to sing instead of just squawk.
They are able to create long and complex songs. And, unlike the non-songbirds, they must learn their songs instead of knowing their breed-specific vocalizations when they are hatched. In addition to having singing skills, passerines have specialized feet for perching.
They have three toes that point forward and one that points backward, so they can hold onto branches and stick their landings. N.
