Bird Songs

This passage is about how bird songs are different in the city than in rural areas.

Lexile Level: 1080L

Categories: Science & Technology Animals & Nature

The pace of life for people living in urban areas is often more rushed than for those residing in rural regions. Now scientists say that the same may be true for birds. Researchers have discovered that birds living in large cities tend to sing faster, shorter songs than their relatives in the forests. The songs also have a higher pitch. The scientists who conducted the study believe that the birds likely adapted their song style in order to be heard over the noise of the city, especially the low rumblings caused by the flow of traffic. Such adaptive behavior makes sense. Singing is vital to the survival of many bird species. The males use their songs to attract mates and stake out their territory. The researchers indicated that for a bird species to survive in an urban environment it had to adapt to suit the demands of that environment.