Why some birds sing elaborate songs in the winter

Male great reed warblers may be practicing how to woo

Marjorie Sorensen with birds in Zambia

WHY SING IN WINTER  Marjorie Sorensen, tracking bird movements in a seasonally flooded valley in Zambia (left), is studying why great reed warblers (one shown, right) overwintering there sing so much.

L-R: Jason Boyce, M. Sorensen

Male birds’ puzzling off-season singing in winter could be practice for flirting in spring.