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An Activity Guide About the Songbirds
of British Columbia
A WORD from the 
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 "Songbirds
make up the largest, most complex and highly evolved group among all birds.
Of the over 475 species of birds that can be found in British Columbia,
more than 200 of them are songbirds.
This guide highlights species of songbirds from the 25 families found in
British Columbia. It includes details on what the songbirds need to survive:
food, habitat and nesting grounds.
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It should also help you recognize some of the more common songbirds and
discover some rare species with declining populations."
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"Before we begin, here are
some facts on what makes a songbird a songbird:
A bird song and a bird call
are quite different. Calls are usually short and simple and used to signal
things such as danger or hunger. Birds of all ages and both sexes produce
bird calls all year round. Bird songs are long, complicated and repetitive.
They can sometimes continue for hours at a time. The male songbird is usually
the singer and his song, which is heard during the breeding season, may
have two functions. It may help to defend his territory from other males
or it may be used to attract potential mates. The male is also usually more
colourful than the female, enhancing his chances of attracting a mate.
Although not all songbirds are musical, they all have a very well- developed
vocal organ called the syrinx. The better a
bird can control its syrinx, the sweeter and more precise its song.
All songbirds have feet that are specialized
for perching. Song birds are often refereed
to as "perching birds".Three of their toes face forward and one,
the strongest, points backwards. This allows them to tightly grasp a perch
safely supporting them even on tiny tree branches.
Most songbirds are migratory, spending the
breeding season (spring and summer) in one area and migrating to warmer
climates in the fall and winter." |
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"Oh, and there
are a few symbols that you may see beside our names...for an explanation
of these, head back to the
Home  page."
"Here's
a list that you can use to skip ahead to a particular family. "
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