In September 2026, scientists from the University of Tübingen published the results of an experiment that unexpectedly matched a topic close to nature lovers' hearts: people really do prefer high and complex birdsong.
In the study, 84 volunteers listened to recordings of the voices of 123 species of European birds and rated their attractiveness on a five-point scale. The leader was the common blackbird (Turdus merula) with an average score of 4,52. Its rich, flute-like song combines high notes, a narrow frequency band and many varied elements. At the bottom of the ranking were the barn owl (Tyto alba) and other species with loud, low and simple calls.
An analysis of the acoustic characteristics revealed a clear pattern. Participants preferred quiet, high and relatively complex vocalizations. The more elements and variations a song contained, the higher it was rated. At the same time, the level of knowledge about birds did not affect the result: even those who could not tell a blackbird from a chaffinch chose the same songs.
This is consistent with earlier data showing that people and animals themselves often agree in their assessment of courtship signals. In a March study published in Science, more than four thousand participants from different countries more often chose the same "ornamented" songs and clicks that birds, frogs and insects themselves prefer. Such coincidences point to deep, possibly evolutionary, roots of our tastes.
For cities and parks, the study's conclusions have practical significance. Planners can take into account which bird species create the most pleasant soundscape, while conservationists can promote songbirds as symbols of biodiversity preservation. When we hear a complex song, we may be responding to a signal of a healthy, safe environment that we instinctively seek.
When listening to birds, it is worth paying attention not only to the volume but also to the richness of the melody — this helps us better appreciate and protect those whose voices calm us.
