Chirp 3

Each week I’m posting a Chirpy Chirp Challenge, looking at birdsong.

Today we are looking at the robin and the wren.

Last week was the chaffinch and goldfinch. How did you get on recognising their calls? I’d be interested to hear from you!

All you’ll need to join in is a piece of paper and a pencil.

The robin

Clothes and behaviour

The male (Mr) and the female (Mrs) look the same.

Robins are territorial and will attack intruding robins mercilessly. This may be why young robins remain speckled for the time they still need parental support, and only develop their red tum in the autumn.

Calls

The robin’s song is one that is heard from early autumn through till summer. It is quite calming.

Have a listen to its song:

Write ‘robin’ at the top of your paper and below it write ‘song’.

Challenge – what words would you use to describe the song?

Now see if you can write or draw the pattern of how the call sounds to you. Here’s a few questions to help you:

It might be easier to break down the song in to sections.

Do some notes stay on the same level like this – – – – – – -? 

When do they go up and when down? Do you hear it as a wave – moving up to a point and then back down?  Or is there another way you can describe it?

If you try and clap the rhythm, what do you get?

There’s no right or wrong answer, it’s just to help you remember the sounds.

Wren

Clothes and behaviour

The male (Mr) and the female (Mrs) look the same.

Wrens are our second smallest song bird. They move around a bit like mice when they are on the ground. They prefer to nest in low-lying bushes and shrubs and only rarely will you see them in higher areas, and this is usually when defending their territory. Their flight is a wee blur o wings to a place where they can shout their song – often with their tail very upright!

Song

You will often hear one wren proclaiming to another, if you hear one, listen out for a reply!

Here is the song:

Write ‘wren’ at the top of your paper and below it write ‘song’.

Challenge – what words would you use to describe the song?

Now see if you can write or draw the pattern of how the call sounds to you. Here’s a few questions to help you:

It might be easier to break down the song in to sections.

Do some notes stay on the same level like this – – – – – – -? 

Or do they go up and down? Like a W or like an M? Or is there another way you can describe it?

If you try and clap the rhythm, what do you get?

There’s no right or wrong answer, it’s just to help you remember the sounds.

Chirp Challenge

Now your challenge is to listen to the recording of bird chorus below. There’s a few singing in this one – see if you can spot the robin and the wren songs:

:

How did you get on? Remember, the more you listen, the easier it will become 🙂

For more info on these two birds, and how they sound, please watch and listen to these great wee videos below:

Robin – here you can listen to some of its calls too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yI97ei9bg8

Wren – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfWac4yxshA

More chirps next week!