A Sky Full of Birds summary

In Britain, the cuckoo’s call signals the spring, and the owl’s screeches come with nightfall. We can hear these same sounds from birds across the northern hemisphere. But when it comes to birdsong that heralds the dawn, Britain is particularly lucky.

The dawn chorus of British birds grows gradually over the seasons, beginning with a lone bird species in winter and building to many more voices in spring, as increasing numbers of both local and migrant birds, such as southern hemisphere warblers, join the song. As more birds contribute their melodies, the dawn chorus builds to a powerful crescendo.

Most of us are familiar with the phrase “one swallow does not a summer make.” But swallows are quite good at heralding the spring, as they arrive in late March and early April, flying off soon after the summer. Like many other birds, they live a life shaped by migration. And Britain is the temporary home of many migratory birds.

Some visit during the summer, such as young cuckoos, which stick around until September before their next stop at the Sahara Desert.

From eagles to hawks, owls and falcons, it’s hard not to feel a certain reverence for birds of prey, otherwise known as raptors. This is partly because we know that they’re efficient killing machines. And not just because of their sharp beaks and talons, but through their cunning methods too.

Take the kestrel, for example. This bird is able to judge and control its position in the wind. They can see the minuscule movements of mammals and insects way down below. Their ultraviolet vision helps too – they can even spot traces of their prey’s urine. A wildcat would envy their high-performance hunting ability.

Starlings are one of Britain’s most documented bird species because of the fascinating formations their flocks form in the sky.

These flock aerobatics are called murmurations and are a rare event. Murmurations are pre-roost gatherings, beginning with as few as 20 birds and growing up to a whopping 4,000. Some birds will even fly in from 30 miles away to join the festivities!

While starling gatherings receive the poetic title of murmurations, a gathering of corvids – a family of birds including ravens, crows and jackdaws – will be given a more sinister nickname. You could describe a group of crows as a “murder” or “mob,” while gathering ravens are termed an “unkindness.”

Throughout history, humans have had a dark fascination with corvids. Why? Well, corvids are larger and a little more frightening than your average garden bird. Ravens, the biggest of them all, reach sizes similar to a buzzard! But this doesn’t fully explain why corvids have been linked to evil and gloom in folklore and superstition.

Ever hear someone say that swans belong to the Queen, or that they sing before dying? Like corvids, swans are also surrounded by their fair share of folklore and myths.

Swans were once considered the property of the Queen. Though this doesn’t hold true for certain species of swan, such as whooper or Bewick’s swans, it is true that unmarked mute swans in open water were in fact “owned” by the crown! This myth also grew because swans were often featured as dining room centerpieces during large royal feasts.