A Robust Preference for Birdsong Over Other Sounds of Nature

Birdsong is frequently highlighted as a particularly salient contributor to nature-based restoration, but relatively few studies have directly compared birdsong to other sounds of nature. In the present work, we first review existing research on the psychological effects of birdsong, highlighting both consistent findings and notable inconsistencies. We then report two studies assessing whether birdsong is aesthetically prioritized relative to other sounds of nature. Study 1 reanalyzed two previously published datasets (total n = 109) in which participants rated the same set of 40 nature soundscapes. In both datasets, soundscapes containing audible birdsong were liked significantly more than other nature soundscapes. Study 2 (n = 124) used a novel set of nature (flowing water, insects), urban (traffic, construction), and generated noise (pink, brown) soundscapes, which were presented in isolation or mixed with birdsong or rainfall. Relative to adding rainfall, adding birdsong increased beauty ratings for all six soundscape categories, but increased liking and relaxation ratings only for traffic soundscapes. Individual differences in nature relatedness scores did not predict ratings. Taken together, these results suggest that birdsong occupies a privileged aesthetic position among sounds of nature, and that this advantage is most clearly expressed through judgments of beauty. We discuss these findings in relation to the biophilia hypothesis, the potential musicality of birdsong, and the design of restorative soundscapes.