The World According To Sound: How Do Songbirds Sing Two Notes At Once?
2:23 minutes
Humans can talk because of their larynx, an organ shared by all mammals. Birds also have a larynx, but they use a different organ to vocalize: a syrinx.
The syrinx is a complex and powerful voice-box. Unlike the larynx, it allows birds to do things like sing two different notes at the same time. That’s how some song birds can sing an ascending line and descending line simultaneously.
Even with all the possibilities of their syrinx, some birds have adapted other ways to “sing.” The Ruffed Grouse, for instance, uses its wings. The Wilson’s Snipe makes a song with its wings and tail. The Palm Cockatoo holds a stick in its beak and bangs it on a tree. The Magnificent Frigatebird inflates its throat sacs and beats them with its long beak. The Sage Grouse makes its song with special chest sacs.
Listen for these sounds on this week’s soundscape from the podcast and live event series, The World According To Sound.
This segment originally aired on the non-profit radio program BirdNote, and it is part of the live show that The World According to Sound is doing in collaboration with BirdNote.
Further Reading
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Segment Guests
Sam Harnett
Sam Harnett is the co-producer of The World According To Sound podcast. He’s based in San Francisco, California.
Segment Transcript
IRA FLATOW: Before we head out of this hour, a soundscape from our friends at the World According to Sound Podcast.
SAM HARNETT: To talk, humans use a larynx, a complex vocal organ. Birds use a syrinx. But some species employ other body parts to make sound.
[WINGS BEATING]
SAM HARNETT: Body part, wings. Species, rough grouse.
[BIRD NOISES]
SAM HARNETT: Wings and tail, Wilson’s snipe.
[BIRD NOISES]
[THUMPING]
SAM HARNETT: A tree banged with a stick held in a beak. Palm cockatoo.
[THUMPING]
[TRILLING]
SAM HARNETT: Inflated throats sacks, beaten and rattled with a long beak. Magnificent frigate bird.
[TRILLING]
[LOW NOISES]
SAM HARNETT: Finally, chess sacks. Sage grouse.
[LOW NOISES]
IRA FLATOW: These sounds are part of a communal listening series The World According to Sound is hosting this winter. This segment originally aired on bird note, and it’s part of the live show that The World According to Sound is doing in collaboration with them. For information about their 90 minute binaural events, visit theworldaccordingtosound.org.
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Meet the Producers and Host
About John Dankosky
John Dankosky works with the radio team to create our weekly show, and is helping to build our State of Science Reporting Network. He’s also been a long-time guest host on Science Friday. He and his wife have three cats, thousands of bees, and a yoga studio in the sleepy Northwest hills of Connecticut.
About Kyle Marian Viterbo
@kylemarianKyle Marian Viterbo is a community manager at Science Friday. She loves sharing hilarious stories about human evolution, hidden museum collections, and the many ways Indiana Jones is a terrible archaeologist.
About Ira Flatow
@iraflatowIra Flatow is the founder and host of Science Friday. His green thumb has revived many an office plant at death’s door.