Sometimes, the most common and plain creatures can possess rare and prideful abilities. That’s true with people and true with birds. And, when it comes to birds, it’s especially true with regard to song sparrows, the most common sparrows in North America. They have been scientifically named in honor of their outstanding ability to sing pleasantly -- Melospiza melodia.
I heard my first two spring song sparrow performances of the year yesterday. The birds were hidden near the edge of our woods, hurling songs at each other worthy of a Wagnerian mastersingers contest. (The images here are from my Archive.) It was a wonderful thing to hear on a gloomy day.
It’s almost always the males that sing in spring to establish nesting territories and attract females. These males have been known to sing up to 20 basic songs on which they perform thousands of variations. Research indicates that the more complex a song, the more attracted are song sparrow females.
Curiously, one study also indicates that a few females will sing like males when stressed by other females intruding into their nesting territory or when the song sparrow population of their area is too high. It’s thought that such events may elevate testosterone levels in the females. (Images taken in Brooklin, Maine.)