You’ve probably heard the advice, “take time to stop and smell the roses.” It’s great advice right now, and so is this: take some time over the next few days to stop and listen to the birds as they sing. You’ll find it to be a comforting, encouraging, refreshing exercise.

And we’re about to make it educational, too, because we’re going to help you identify which birds you’re hearing. Of course, it’s a bit more complicated than one song per species; in addition to songs usually used to attract a mate, birds also have various distinct calls to warn of danger or identify themselves. But at least this gives you a place to start.

Northern Cardinal

John Flannery/Flickr Cardinals sing a cheerful song of slurred whistles and trills. “Cheer, cheer, cheer; birdie, birdie, birdie,” they seem to chorus.

Tufted Titmouse

Shenandoah National Park/Flickr A tufted titmouse sings “peter-peter-peter-peter.”

American Robin

Joe Cosentino/Flickr An American Robin sings “Cheerily, cheer-up, cheer-up! Cheerily, cheer-up!”

Eastern Towhee

Shenandoah National Park/Flickr The Eastern Towhee admonishes: “Drink your tea!”

Eastern Bluebird

CheepShot/Flickr Eastern Bluebirds sing “trrrrr-u-ly” (or “puuuurrrrity” or “cheeerr-i-lyyy”) and “pew-pew-pew.”

Chickadee

Andrea Pokrzywinski/Flickr The chickadee knows its own name: “chk-a-dee-dee-dee.” Sometimes it calls for its friend, Phoebe.

Barred Owl

Fyn Kynd/Flickr A barred owl queries, “Who cooks for you?”

We recognize that this is only a handful of hundreds of backyard birds you could be hearing right now, especially in West Virginia, a state famous for her birding opportunities! What are your favorite birds to listen for, and what do they sound like? Share a YouTube link in the comments!

John Flannery/Flickr

Cardinals sing a cheerful song of slurred whistles and trills. “Cheer, cheer, cheer; birdie, birdie, birdie,” they seem to chorus.

Shenandoah National Park/Flickr

A tufted titmouse sings “peter-peter-peter-peter.”

Joe Cosentino/Flickr

An American Robin sings “Cheerily, cheer-up, cheer-up! Cheerily, cheer-up!”

The Eastern Towhee admonishes: “Drink your tea!”

CheepShot/Flickr

Eastern Bluebirds sing “trrrrr-u-ly” (or “puuuurrrrity” or “cheeerr-i-lyyy”) and “pew-pew-pew.”

Andrea Pokrzywinski/Flickr

The chickadee knows its own name: “chk-a-dee-dee-dee.” Sometimes it calls for its friend, Phoebe.

Fyn Kynd/Flickr

A barred owl queries, “Who cooks for you?”

To encourage backyard birds, consider adding a bird feeder and some birdhouses to your landscape.

And if you’re looking for a great place to go birding besides your own yard, try the Hanging Rock Raptor Observatory!

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