Why Do Roosters Make That Noise? | Earth - EarthSky

Sign Up for Our Amazing Newsletter!

A daily update by email. Science news, great photos, sky alerts.

Your email address will only be used for EarthSky content.Privacy Policy Thank you! Your submission has been received! Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form. EarthSky One Earth. One Sky. EarthSky. Tonight Space Sun Earth Human Best Places to Stargaze EarthSky Community Photos About Store Donate Contact Us Subscribe Tonight Tonight Brightest Stars Astronomy Essentials Moon Phases Clusters Nebulae Galaxies Favorite Star Patterns Constellations Astronomy EssentialsTonight

Visible planets and night sky guide for February

Marcy Curran February 5, 2026 Astronomy Essentials

What are the best targets for binoculars?

Kelly Kizer Whitt February 4, 2026 Moon Phases

Wintery full Snow Moon images for February 2026

Cristina Ortiz February 3, 2026 Space Sun Earth Human Human Spaceflight Best Places to Stargaze Community Photos View Community Photos Trending Submit a Photo About Store Donate Share: Earth What makes a rooster decide to crow? Posted by Editors of EarthSky and January 9, 2012

A rooster crows because he has an internal clock that helps him anticipate sunrise. Like all birds, roosters sing – or crow – in a daily cycle. Almost all animals have daily cycles of activity known as circadian rhythms that roughly follow the cycle of day and night. Roosters anticipate sunrise to get a head start on their daily hunt for food and defense of territory.

But if one rooster in the neighbor has an internal clock that’s set a little early, he can stimulate other roosters to crow early, too. The rooster’s sunrise song is actually a way of establishing his territory. When a rooster crows, he’s sending a signal to other roosters that if they trespass, they’re asking for a fight.

A rooster will often crow from a vantage point above his territory so he can make others more aware of his presence and so that his songs travel farther. Even though roosters are the most famous crooners of the chicken world, hens aren’t exactly silent, either. When a hen spots a hawk, she’ll let out a harsh scream to send her chicks into hiding. But if she sees a less-threatening human, she might just cackle.

Bluesky55FacebookThreadsBufferShare55SHARES Posted  January 9, 2012  in  Earth

Editors of EarthSky

View Articles

About the Author:

The EarthSky team has a blast bringing you daily updates on your cosmos and world. We love your photos and welcome your news tips. Earth, Space, Sun, Human, Tonight. Since 1994.

Like what you read?Subscribe and receive daily news delivered to your inbox.

Your email address will only be used for EarthSky content. Privacy Policy Thank you! Your submission has been received! Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

More from 

Editors of EarthSky

View All

Amazing cloud streets video: See it here!

February 4, 2026

See the zodiacal light around the March equinox

February 3, 2026

Full moon names of the month and by the season

February 1, 2026

Happy Groundhog Day! Will Phil see his shadow?

February 1, 2026

Tonight

Visible planets and night sky guide for February

Comments

YouTube Twitter Facebook Instagram Store Donate © 2025-2029 Earthsky Communications Inc. WEbsite by Milkyway.co About Contact Us Terms & PRivacy Share to...BufferCopyEmailFacebookFlipboardHacker NewsLineLinkedInMessengerMixPinterestPrintRedditSMSTelegramTumblrXVKWhatsAppXingYummly