Students will study songbird songs and calls, try to sing them and then play a singing game with a partner. The children will learn about identifying birds by their songs and calls.
Background
Songbirds have that name because many of them are especially fine songsters. A major function of a songbird's song is to claim its territory and attract a mate. As a result you may hear more singing in the spring and early summer. Often the singing is done by the male, although some females also sing. In addition to singing, birds have calls they use for communication. The songs and calls of songbirds can be complex with complicated note patterns. Others can be simple and easy to imitate. Learning the songs and calls is a great way to identify birds.
Materials
songbird tape (if available) or access to the Internet (see resources for both)
list of songbird songs
treats
Boreal Forest Songbird Songs and Calls
Ruby-crowned Kinglet: see see see you you you look-at-me look-at-me look-at-me
Swainson's Thrush: call whoit-whoit, burry rrehrr
American Robin: clear caroling cheerily, cheer-up, cheerio
Orange-crowned Warbler: call stick, chip, seet
Yellow Warbler: sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet, I'm so sweet
Blackpoll Warbler: a quiet tseet tseet tseet tseet tseet tseet...
Wilson's Warbler: chi chi chi chi chi...chet chet
Yellow-rumped Warbler: call loud check, chwik, chuck
Northern Waterthrush: twit twit twit sweet sweet sweet chew chew chew
Alder Flycatcher: fee-bee-o
Slate-colored Junco: call tsip, zeet or kew kew
White-crowned Sparrow: call pink, tchik
American Tree Sparrow: flock call tseedle-eet
Fox Sparrow: whistle followed by churr churr churr
Lincoln's Sparrow: call tschup, tik, tchik or buzzy zee, tssi
Savannah Sparrow: sa-sa-savaaaaaaaannah
Black-capped Chickadee: chickadee-dee-dee
Common Redpoll: chit-chit-chit-chit
- Begin with a discussion about why the students think birds sing.
- Children should study the songs and calls listed in this activity. Let them listen to the calls if there is an Alaska Bird Songs tape available or you can access the songs on the Internet (see references for sites). Then they should practice singing the songs until they are comfortable with the sound.
- Break the class into partners or groups and play a "name that tune" type game. The students can take turns singing a song while the others try to guess which bird it is. Conclude with a "name that bird song tune" tournament to find the best ears and the best singer in the class. Reward everyone with a treat for singing like a bird.
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