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Bird Song

You can hear this difference in UK birds.

Singing Robin
Singing Robin
Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Click here for the license
Black Bittern calling, Warriewood Wetlands, New South Wales
Black Bittern calling, Warriewood Wetlands, New South Wales
Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Click here for the license
A Goldcrest singing and showing off its crest
A Goldcrest singing and showing off its crest
Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Click here for the license

The Robin:

A robin is small, so its voice box (called a syrinx) is also small. It makes very fast, short vibrations, which create a high-pitched, warbling song.

The Bittern:

A bittern is a large, chunky bird that hides in reed beds. To make its call, it gulps in air and "booms" it out. This creates a very big, slow vibration, resulting in a deep, low-pitched "booom" sound that can be heard from miles away.

💡 Fun Facts

  • A bittern's boom is so low-pitched it sounds like someone blowing over the top of a giant milk bottle.
  • The tiny Goldcrest, one of the UK's smallest birds, has one of the highest-pitched songs—so high that some older people can't hear it!
  • In general, smaller objects vibrate faster and make higher-pitched sounds (like a triangle), while larger objects vibrate slower and make lower-pitched sounds (like a big drum).