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Published online 30 April 2002 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news020429-3
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Early birds have big eyes
Birds that can see better in low light kick off the dawn chorus.
Birds with large eyes begin singing earlier in the morning than their small-eyed neighbours because they can see better in low light.
So say British researchers explaining why, on a spring day in Welsh woodland, robins and redstarts pipe up a good hour and a half before chaffinches and blue tits.
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