Delightful Duets

BirdNote^®
Delightful Duets
Written by Ariana Remmel

This is BirdNote.

While many songbirds are accomplished soloists, some of the bird world’s most impressive performances are actually duets.

         [Carolina Wren duet]

In North America, breeding pairs of Carolina Wrens sing duets to strengthen their bond and defend territory. The male repeats a series of clear notes accompanied by the female’s steady trill.

         [Carolina Wren duet]

In Ecuador, Plain-tailed Wrens blend their voices so perfectly that it sounds to our human ears as if just one bird were singing.

         [Plain-tailed Wren duet]

Wrens aren’t the only birds that sing as power couples. In this duet of Oriole Warblers from Senegal, the female keeps time with a rising series of staccato notes as the male whistles along.

         [Oriole Warbler duet]

In Central America, pairs of male Long-tailed Manakins team up to woo prospective females with song and dance.

         [Long-tailed Manakin]

Researchers have estimated that the dynamic duo may perform their Toledo song up to 5,000 times in one day! An impressive vocal feat indeed!

For BirdNote, I’m Michael Stein.

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Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Producer: Jazzi Johnson
Managing Producer: Ariana Remmel
Content Director: Jonese Franklin

Bird sounds provided by The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Carolina Wren ML128910 recorded by G. Vyn. Plain-tailed Wren ML185645 recorded by B. Winger. Oriole Warbler ML145386751recorded by J. McGowan. Long-tailed Manakin ML165015 recorded by D.L. Ross, Jr. 
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2026 BirdNote June 2026
Narrator: Michael Stein

ID# sound-36-2026-06-26      sound-36

Reference:
https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/lotman1/cur/introduction