Bird singing contest
A bird singing contest is a competition of songbirds, usually caged examples of wild species. Such contests are held in at least 22 countries of the world, and at least 36 different species are used in this way.[1][2] The practice is particularly widespread in Southeast Asia, where it increases trade in songbirds and may contribute to the decline of threatened species.[2]
Americas
The bird singing contest is a popular sport in Guyana,[3] while in Brazil singing contests featuring the chestnut-bellied seed finch (curió in Portuguese) are held.[4]
Asia
In Southern China, it is a common sight to witness the elderly people bringing the cages of Chinese hwamei to the local parks to enjoy their singing. In Japan, there are nationwide societies to exchange information on improving singing of the warbling white-eye[5] and other birds.
In Indonesia, hundreds of songbird competitions are held all over the country every year.[6] In Thailand, bird singing contests are also held frequently.[7] The practice of wild species caged in is particularly widespread in Southeast Asia, where it increases trade in songbirds and may contribute to the decline of threatened species.[2]
Surveys conducted by a team led by EcoVerde Global Consulting[8] found that the crested jayshrike is used as a “master bird” to train songbird species that compete in songbird competitions. While it received legal protection in Indonesia in 2018, the trade in the bird markets remained as open as when it was not protected, and the number of individuals for the species remained unchanged over a 15 year period[9]
Europe
In Belgium, vinkensport is a contest of how many bird calls are made per hour by chaffinches.
See also
References
- ↑ [s.n.], (8 December 2021). Bird singing contests: A clash of culture and conservation. ScienceDaily. Accessed July 2023.
- 1 2 3 Benjamin H. Mirin, Holger Klinck (2021). Bird singing contests: Looking back on thirty years of research on a global worldwide conservation concern. Journal of Global Ecology and Conservation. 30 (October 2021): e01812. doi:10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01812.
- ↑ Guyana Kicks Off Singing Finch Competition (Youtube)
- ↑ "A vida competitiva dos curiós". revista piauí. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 2023-07-14.
- ↑ List of societies for the Warbling white-eyes (in Japanese)
- ↑ Songbird competitions are a popular pastime (The Economist, 2021)
- ↑ Bird Singing Contest in Thailand. Red-Whiskered Bulbul Singing Competition. Merbah Jambul (YouTube)
- ↑ "Home". EcoVerde. Retrieved 2026-08-16.
- ↑ Nijman, Vincent; Abdullah, Abdullah; Ardiansyah, Ahmad; Chavez, Jessica; Hedger, Katherine; Hendrik, Rifqi; Langgeng, Abdullah; Nekaris, K. Anne-Isola; Payuse, I. Nyoman Aji Duranegara; Sintya, Erly; Sukmadewi, Desak Ketut Tristiana; Campera, Marco (2026). "Risk of Secondary Extinction in the Asian Songbird Trade, as Exemplified by the Selling of Crested Jayshrikes as Master Birds". Integrative Conservation. 5 (1): 33–45. Bibcode:2026IntCo...5...33N. doi:10.1002/inc3.70070. ISSN 2770-9329.