Image Credit: DataZone European Goldfinch
Carduelis carduelis
I have often noticed an improvement in my overall mood by listening to birds singing, but it is even more uplifting when I watch or interact with them at the same time. After noticing all of this, I was curious as to why, so I went out looking at research and found some very interesting studies on this topic.
Newer studies have suggested that people experience a similar pattern when they encounter birdlife in their daily lives. Nature has long been known to have a positive correlation with improved mental health; however, recent studies have directed more of their research toward birds as a standalone element of nature.
One very large study done by Scientific Reports researched over 1,200 participants to track their daily real-life experiences using the smartphone app Urban Mind. Participants were asked multiple times throughout the day (for 14 days and assessed 3x a day) whether they saw or heard birds, along with how they were feeling at that moment. By capturing real-life experiences as they were occurring instead of relying on memory makes the study more reliable. It was shown that when people are aware of birds in their daily lives, they tend to feel happier, calmer, and more connected and have an uplifting effect lasting for several hours after the encounter (Hammoud et al., 2022).
There is further study that has shown positive results. In 2024, a study was completed that observed whether structured birdwatching would improve a person's mood and reduce their amount of stress (Peterson et al., 2024). The results show that the presence of birds improved their participants' moods and reduced their amount of stress more than generic walks; therefore, the use of structured bird-watching can be an effective tool to reduce stress.
A review of multiple studies in 2025 showed consistent patterns across the research that linked birds to a person's overall well-being, lower stress, and better attention. These studies clearly indicate that birds positively affect a person's mental health more than previously believed.
Birds don't only seem like beautiful, natural creatures, but they also seem to have a validated and consistent influence on how we feel. The sounds of birds outside, seeing them flying or taking the time to actually observe them, really make me grateful for those little moments.
References:
Hammoud, R., Tognin, S., Burgess, L., et al. (2022). Smartphone-based ecological momentary assessment reveals mental health benefits of birdlife. Scientific Reports. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-20207-6
Peterson, M. N., Larson, L. R., Hipp, A., et al. (2024). Birdwatching linked to increased psychological well-being on college campuses: A pilot-scale experimental study. Journal of Environmental Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102306
Andrews, J. G., et al. (2025). Birding Benefits: A Review of Mental Health, Cognitive, Social, and Conservation Impacts. EcoHealth. https://doi.org/10.1089/eco.2024.0019