This is bird note.

In temperate climates like North America, it's often male songbirds that sing the most.

Typically, the males migrate north before females and establish territories for the short breeding season,

using their songs as a way to claim a spot.

But many female birds do sing, even in colder climates, such as this canyon wren.

And in the warm tropic zones, it's a different story. Birds typically stay in the same breeding territory year-round rather than just a few months.

That may have helped lead to a different behavior pattern.

Females in the tropics can have a big role in defending a territory,

and many of them sing, often just as loudly and artfully as the males.

Some species even blend male and female songs in a complex duet,

like these bay wrens.

Yeah. male and female songs in a complex duet, like these bay wrens. And when you look at songbirds as a whole, it's the pattern in the tropics that's the rule,

not the exception. Both females and males sing in the majority of songbird species,

about 64% according to one study. Scientists have created the Female Songbird Project to help track

female bird song throughout the world. Learn how you can participate at birdnote.org.

I'm Ariana Remyl.