Book | Behavioural biology

Unraveling bird sounds

From the virtuosic songs of a nightingale to the various alarm calls of a great tit, bird sounds are incredibly diverse. They are among the most complex sounds in the animal kingdom and, according to Darwin, resemble language more closely than the vocalisations of other animal groups. But what do we really know about bird sounds? How do birds produce them? Do they have to be learned? How did such a wide variety of sounds evolve? And what do they mean?

Author: Carel ten Cate
Date: 13 April 2026

In Unraveling Bird Sounds (in Dutch), behavioural biologist Carel ten Cate shows how researchers are tackling these and other questions, and what we have learned so far. Topics include the sounds of the earliest birds and the extinct dodo, two-voice singing, the significance of a 'swearing' duck, and how changes in sound can lead to the emergence of new bird species. The book also explores the impact of increasing human noise on birds and their vocalizations, as well as comparisons between bird sounds and human speech, language, and music.

What do we know about the how and why of bird sounds?

• Research on bird sounds presented in an accessible way
• Learn how birds communicate and discover the fascinating world behind their sounds
• Ideal for anyone interested in biology, science, birds, and animal behavior
• With illustrations by Elwin van der Kolk

Published by KNNV Uitgeverij