Why Are Birds Outside Singing in a Rain Downpour?

Singing

• Birds sing for a variety of reasons. They will sing to keep intruders away from their territories, as a type of communication, or to attract mates. Many birds will perform a number of vocalizations in attempts to attract vibrant, fertile mates in the hopes of reproduction.

Rain Singing

• Research conducted at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in North Carolina has concluded that many birds sing during rain and other storms because of an evolutionary response to find mates. Birds will become more desperate for mates if the climate is erratic, like during a rainstorm, since they may feel that time for mating is dwindling. This makes their songs often louder and stronger than usual, as research suggests that females are choosier during times of potential crisis.

Cold Climates

• Similar research suggests that birds sing out of desperation not just in rain, but in colder climates as well. Colder climates are typically more difficult to survive than warmer climates because of the adaptations required for keeping animals alive. Hence, a female will be more picky about finding a suitable mate to produce suitable offspring in colder climates.

Times

• Bird songs are most common in the morning and early afternoon. Most song birds are diurnal and go to sleep at night, so you won't hear them singing. The singing is most prevalent during the breeding season, which runs between May and July for most birds. Storms during this time may invoke a high number of bird choruses.