London – Their cheery song often brightens a winter’s day.
But thanks to modern life, robins are in danger of wearing themselves out.
They are now singing day and night because urban lighting is disrupting their biological clocks, researchers say.
Davide Dominoni, of Glasgow University, who tracks the birds’ behaviour, warned that light from street lamps and homes means they are wide awake when they should be asleep – which could put their health at risk.
He told the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s annual conference in San Jose: ‘There have been a couple of studies suggesting they are increasing their song output at night; during the day they are still singing.
‘Singing is a costly behaviour, it takes energy.
‘By increasing their song output, there might be some energetic costs.’
And it is not just robins that are being kept awake at night, he added. Blackbirds and seagulls are also being more nocturnal.
Daily Mail