Dawn Chorus Soundscapes

What is a Dawn Chorus?

A dawn chorus refers to the acoustic activity of animals around first light. Some dawn choruses last as little as 20 minutes, some over an hour. The dawn chorus happens in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In boreal forests, Earth's most common biome, birds make up the majority of the acoustic landscape. Insects and frogs usually dominate the chorus of tropical biomes, while snapping shrimp are the most common in marine ecosystems. Vocalizing in groups offers advantages for different species including mate attraction, territory defense, establishing social dynamics, and information on food recourses.