On my way home from work yesterday, I stopped for a burrito. When I came out, there were dozens, maybe hundreds, of small birds swarming around four trees that bordered the parking lot and chirping up a storm. Many seemed to be perched, but some were flying. I don’t know enough to tell you what kind of birds they were; smaller than a robin, and mostly a dull brown. It was about 7:45 in the evening, so just early twilight.
So, bird experts, what was all the fuss about? Something to do with food, sex, or just gathering together for safety during the night? It was a quarter-mile from the Lexington Battle Green, so they may have been preparing for a revolution (but I wouldn’t bet on it).
Mostly this. It was just a flock preparing to settle down for the evening. The excited chirping is known as an “evening chorus” or “dusk chorus.” A lot of thrushes like robins, but also some flocking sparrows (might have been the culprit, though dull brown and smaller than a robin could be more that a few things ), blackbirds and others will start up an excited racket just as or after the sun is setting. It generally doesn’t last very long then they go to sleep.
It’s a less pronounced and widespread phenomenon than the dawn chorus. But since the birds that do it often do it in flocks, it can be locally pretty noticeable.
), blackbirds and others will start up an excited racket just as or after the sun is setting. It generally doesn’t last very long then they go to sleep.