Is birdsong music?

It’s contentious. Is there more to birdsong than staking out territory and attracting a mate? Are there messages about food and danger? And is there more? Birdsong is certainly functional, but is it only functional? Musician Hollis Taylor has been recording and studying Australian birdsong since 2002. She has documented their calls and songs, and even observed young birds being trained to sing by their parents. Hollis Taylor speaks to a range of scientists as she considers whether birds appreciate their calls as much as we do. One biologist argues that as birds learn from and mimic each other, this passing of learning from one generation to the other fits the definition of culture. And being culture makes it music. See what you think!