From pop to rock, lots of singers belt out tunes inspired by birds. Tap your toes to songs about birds you won’t find in your field guide.
Rockin’ Like a Robin
The word “robin” is mentioned 15 times in Michael Jackson’s “Rockin’ Robin” (1972). Hear what an American robin’s song sounds like.
Discover fascinating facts about bird movies.
Do the Turkey Trot
Little Eva, of “The LocoMotion” fame, released “Let’s Turkey Trot” in 1963. In a video performance, Little Eva and her backup dancers flap their arms and perform fancy turkeylike footwork.
Learn more about birds in books: famous birds in literature.
Blending Songs About Birds
The Trashmen’s “Surfin’ Bird” hit No. 4 on the charts in 1964. It’s a medley of two songs by The Rivingtons, “The Bird’s the Word”and “Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow.”
A Beatle and a Blackbird
This song about birds took time to perfect. It took Paul McCartney 32 takes to record the main track of 1968’s “Blackbird.”
Song About a Snowbird
Gene MacLellan wrote “Snowbird” in only 25 minutes. The song reached widespread popularity in 1970 after Anne Murray recorded it.
Meet the snowbirds: learn cool facts about junco birds.
What It Sounds Like When Doves Cry
Prince’s “When Doves Cry” spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 list in 1984.
Sing This Song While Bird-watching
Eels frontman Mark Everett dedicated the song “I Like Birds” to his mother, who was an avid bird-watcher. The catchy tune was released in 2000.
After you finish this list of songs about birds, check out fun facts about fascinating facts about bird sounds.
White-Winged Dove
The famous song “Edge of Seventeen” opens with a mention of a white-winged dove. Stevie Nicks says she was inspired to write the song lyric after learning about the bird while traveling.
What does a mourning dove call sound like?
