The reason why birds make such a racket at dawn is still unclear. But researchers are now pouring cold water on one popular ...

What they found involves birds marking their territory and going on "hunting parties" Sebastien Berger / AFP via Getty Images / AFP via Getty Images.

What they found involves birds marking their territory and going on "hunting parties" Sebastien Berger / AFP via Getty Images / AFP via Getty Images.

What they found involves birds marking their territory and going on "hunting parties" A white-throated kingfisher is pictured in India's Rajasthan state in 2013.

The reason why birds make such a racket at dawn is still unclear. But researchers are now pouring cold water on one popular idea about why.

What they found involves birds marking their territory and going on "hunting parties" A white-throated kingfisher is pictured in India's Rajasthan state in 2013.

For decades, a dominant theory about why birds sing at dawn — called the "dawn chorus" — has been that they can be heard farther and more clearly at that time. Sound travels faster in humid ...

What they found involves birds marking their territory and going on "hunting parties" Sebastien Berger / AFP via Getty Images / AFP via Getty Images. A white-throated kingfisher is pictured in India's ...

The reason why birds make such a racket at dawn is still unclear. ... What they found involves birds marking their territory and going on "hunting parties" Sebastien Berger / AFP via Getty Images / ...

The reason why birds make such a racket at dawn is still unclear. But researchers are now pouring cold water on one popular idea about why.