New Study Eavesdrops on the Secret Lives of Birds

by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
May 6, 2026

Scientists have discovered they can eavesdrop on the secret lives of birds using networks of inexpensive microphones, revealing complex behaviors across vast wilderness areas, according to research published today in the journal Ecology.

Previously, microphone technology that records sounds from wildlife had mostly been used to determine if a species was present in an area. Recordings could tell researchers what birds were present, but not what the birds were doing. Now, scientists from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology show that recordings of bird songs and calls can also reveal details about bird behavior that are otherwise time-consuming and difficult for scientists to observe directly in the wild. This research also demonstrates the value of using inexpensive microphones across large areas of land, helping scientists understand behavior at larger spatial scales.

Keep reading: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/study-eavesdrops-on-birds/

Read the Ecology paper: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ecy.70362