Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Study Reveals Which Birdsongs Humans Find Most Pleasing

A new study has identified acoustic features that make birdsongs more appealing to human ears, suggesting a fundamental connection to beauty beyond mere recognition.

Researchers surveyed 84 participants in Germany, asking them to rate the pleasantness of vocalizations from 123 European bird species. The Eurasian blackbird was rated highest, while the western barn owl was ranked lowest. The findings could aid in managing soundscapes in urban and recreational areas.

Study co-author Nadine Kalb stated that enjoyment of birdsong is not dependent on prior knowledge of birds, indicating a more fundamental connection.

The research aimed to understand what makes songs pleasing, linking bird vocalization biology with human perception psychology. Previous work had already established that bird sounds can benefit human well-being.

Analysis revealed that quieter songs with higher pitches and narrower bandwidths were perceived as most pleasant. Surprisingly, more complex songs also tended to receive higher pleasantness ratings.

Top-rated songs included those from the willow warbler, blackcap, and mistle thrush, while the Egyptian goose, gray heron, and peregrine falcon were among the least pleasing.

Potential reasons for preference include variable sounds with moderate loudness and pitch signaling a safe, healthy environment. Prior knowledge of birds did not influence ratings, highlighting the importance of acoustic features.

Limitations include not testing call rate's impact and a participant pool that was predominantly female. Future research aims for larger, more diverse studies across cultures and bird-watcher experience levels. The findings could inform conservation efforts, though concerns exist about prioritizing less pleasing songs.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.