News; Family; Ask Dr. Universe: Birds use morning songs to mark their territory Mon., June 24, 2024 A sparrow sings while perched on lantana flowers. Because mornings are generally quiet, it’s a ...

Scent-marking, bird calls, giant piles of dung: Animals communicate territory in all sorts of different ways.

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.

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

When it comes to calling, birds are most active during their breeding season. “Like humans build compound walls and tigers spray urine to mark their territory, birds use calling to do the same.

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 ...

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.

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 ...

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.