The sound of birdsong

WOOD PIGEON There is something earnest about the song of the wood pigeon, one of Europe’s most common birds. There are only five coos in its song sequence – a fast coo, two slow coos and finally another two quick ones – but when pigeons coo in unison, something remarkable happens. It’s often on a warm day, when the lower airspace is full of insects buzzing. Up in the sleepy canopy of the humming forest, the pigeons call all day long, coo upon coo, coo upon coo. The overall effect is like a soft mattress of sound, an incredibly peaceful, reassuring murmur. It’s as if the heat has risen and is forming a bubble of simmering throatiness. This peaceful, feel-good super-cooing must have been heard by our ancestors countless times, and perhaps…

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The Simple Things (Digital) - 1 Issue, August 2023

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