Ten of the Best Songs about Birds (part 2)

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Anyone who knows me will know that three of my biggest passions are birds, sport, and music. If you asked me to rank them, I’d really struggle - they all mean a lot to me. In this article, I’m bringing two of those loves together: birding and music.

I’ve always enjoyed a wide range of music, from old school classics to heavy rock, and even a bit of country (influenced by Yellowstone and my mother). This is the second article where I explore the best songs about birds. If you missed the first one, you can read it here. I’ve included a broad mix of songs from different genres and generations, so there should be something for everyone.

As a bonus, you’ll also find a link at the end to a Spotify playlist with all the tracks from both articles. If you enjoy this, please share it with a friend—it helps spread the word.

So here it is: Part Two of the Best Songs About Birds.

1. Rain King - Counting Crows

I start with a song from an album I consider one of the best of all time. It’s one of those rare records I’d call perfect, every track a masterpiece, with the best-known being Mr. Jones, an absolute sing-along classic. As an added bonus, the band’s very name mentions birds. I don’t think Rain King is the best song on the album, but wow, it really is something special.

In 1994, Counting Crows released Rain King, a track from their debut August and Everything After. The title was inspired by Saul Bellow’s novel Henderson the Rain King, but the song became its own anthem of creativity and longing. It climbed charts worldwide and is still ranked high among fan favorites almost three decades later. What makes it stand out for birders is the opening image: “Deliver me in a black-winged bird.” That dark bird of flight carries the listener into a place of transformation and release, where feathers, faith, and longing blur into one. Here the bird isn’t a gentle symbol of nature but a metaphor for freedom, creativity, and escape, a reminder of how deeply birds are tied into the way we express our own need to soar.

2. The Albatross - Taylor Swift

Okay, I must admit, I am not a huge Taylor Swift fan (a Swifty), but there is no doubting her incredible talent. The first time I heard this song was when I was preparing for this article, and I loved it straight away. I am a big fan of acoustic songs, so this gentle and beautiful track definitely earns its place on this playlist.

Taylor Swift’s The Albatross, released as part of her Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology in 2024, takes its name from one of the most powerful bird symbols in literature. In Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, the albatross is a burden of guilt, an omen that follows a sailor after he kills the bird. Swift leans into this imagery, painting herself as the figure others warn about - “she’s the albatross, she is here to destroy you” - before flipping it and declaring she was the one who swept in to the rescue. With its stormy language of wild winds, devils, and towers, the song feels like a modern fable sung on the edge of the sea.

Fans quickly tied the song to her six-year relationship with Joe Alwyn, noting that albatrosses famously spend about six years at sea before returning to land. Whether about him or not, the track is a reminder of how birds can carry weight as symbols. Here the albatross isn’t just a seabird - it’s a metaphor for burden, for warning, and for the way others label someone unfairly. For birders, it’s fascinating to see one of the ocean’s greatest wanderers find its way into pop music, not for its wingspan or journeys across the globe, but for the stories and superstitions that have always surrounded it.

3. Tennessee Bird Walk - Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan

This is probably one of the most unusual songs on the list, but it mentions birds more explicitly than most of the others. Again, like the Taylor Swift track, this is a song I had never heard before. It’s a lighthearted country tune that will have your foot tapping along, and who knows, it might even become the first official long-arm anthem at a boere birding dance-off (if you have no ideas what that is, check out this video)!

In 1970, country duo Jack Blanchard & Misty Morgan took the world by surprise with Tennessee Bird Walk. The song soared to number one on the U.S. country charts and even cracked the pop top 30. At a time when Merle Haggard and other heavyweights dominated the airwaves, this playful tune about featherless, wingless birds “walking southward in their dirty underwear” somehow became the most requested record in the land. Delivered with straight faces and quirky sound effects, it proved that even the silliest novelty could strike a chord with listeners.

The lyrics lean fully into bird imagery, asking what would happen if birds lost their wings, feathers, and trees. The result is absurd but oddly charming, reminding us how much joy comes from the ordinary things we take for granted. Misty even slips in a whispered “chirp chirp”, one of the song’s most memorable moments. More than fifty years later, Tennessee Bird Walk is still remembered with a smile, a cult favorite among country novelty hits and one of the strangest bird songs ever to perch at the top of the charts.

4. Three Little Birds - The Kiffness

Well, keeping with the South African theme, I couldn’t leave this song off the list. This selection maybe cheats a little, because the original Bob Marley classic was on the first list. The Kiffness is probably best known for his (or should I say, his) viral cat songs, but he’s also built a following by remixing moments that capture people’s hearts. This track might not win a Grammy, but it has all the lekker vibes, and those irresistible “cute kid” feels that make it so easy to love.

Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds has long been one of the most loved songs in the world, reminding us not to worry because “every little thing is gonna be alright.” In 2020, a young boy named Rylyn Clark sang it in a home video that went viral for its sweetness and hope. South African musician The Kiffness was so moved that he turned Rylyn’s singing into one of his signature remixes. Fast forward to 2024, when Rylyn faced health struggles, The Kiffness re-released the track, pledging royalties and support for his treatment—and once again, the song spread across the world.

What makes this version powerful is how it carries forward Marley’s bird imagery. The “three little birds” are still there, singing “melodies pure and true” to remind us of resilience and joy. But in this case, Rylyn’s voice became the birds—an innocent messenger bringing comfort during uncertain times. Paired with The Kiffness’s upbeat arrangement, the song took flight again, proving how music and birds alike can lift our spirits when we need it most.

5. Little Bird - Annie Lennox

A song that doesn’t just mention birds, but is also an amazing track in its own right. Annie Lennox’s powerful vocals, against instruments that slowly build, make this one unforgettable. I still don’t know how this didn’t make the original list - it might be one of the best songs ever to reference birds.

In 1993, Annie Lennox released Little Bird as part of her debut solo album Diva, and it quickly became one of her signature songs. Built around a driving beat and Lennox’s soaring vocals, the track reached number three in the UK charts and became a number one hit on the U.S. dance charts. At its heart, though, the song is about something much deeper than chart success, it’s Annie watching a bird in flight and longing for that same freedom, finally declaring: “this little bird’s fallen out of that nest now, so I’ve just got to put these wings to test.”

The music video drove the point home with Lennox facing down all her past personas on stage, an artist ready to move forward, just as the lyrics say. That simple bird image captures resilience and independence, turning a pop song into an anthem of liberation. Decades later, Lennox performed Little Bird at the 2012 Olympics in London, proving it still resonates. For anyone who has ever wished they could spread their wings and take flight, this song remains a reminder that sometimes you just have to test those wings and soar.

6. Surfin’ Bird - The Trashmen

Some people might wonder how this song made the list, but there’s probably one big reason. It featured in what is arguably the most famous birding movie of all time: The Big Year. I can still picture Jack Black’s character using it as his ringtone. If you haven’t watched the film yet, all I can say is - why not? (Check out this article where I share more about my favourite birding movie.)

Back in 1963, a surf-rock band from Minnesota called The Trashmen took two R&B novelties from The Rivingtons and mashed them together on stage. The result was Surfin’ Bird, a manic explosion of drums, guitar, and nonsense syllables, all wrapped around the unforgettable line “the bird is the word.” To everyone’s surprise, this chaotic mix became a smash hit, climbing to number four on the U.S. charts and selling tens of thousands of copies in its first week. It’s silly, it’s repetitive, and it’s brilliant—a song that has outlived most of its contemporaries.

Though there isn’t much “bird” in the lyrics beyond the chant, the track captures something wild and untamed, like a bird squawking at full volume just because it can. Over the decades it’s taken on a life of its own—surf parties, punk covers by the Ramones, and appearances in everything from Full Metal Jacket to Family Guy. And for birders, its cameo in The Big Year is a reminder that sometimes the quirkiest bird songs deserve a place right alongside the most serious ones. All these years later, Surfin’ Bird still proves one thing: everybody knows that the bird is, indeed, the word.

7. Albatross - Fleetwood Mac

The second song on this list that mentions the albatross. Fleetwood Mac is one of my favourite bands of all time, with so many well-known songs. For those who were on the Flock to Marion Cruise, this track was the perfect backdrop as albatrosses soared over the waves. In fact, I’d suggest this song only fully makes sense when paired with an albatross sighting.

In 1968, Fleetwood Mac released Albatross, a gentle instrumental written by guitarist Peter Green. Unlike their usual blues-rock sound, this piece drifted along like waves at sea, with soft cymbal washes and guitars weaving together in calm conversation. It became the band’s first and only UK number-one single, surprising many by proving that simplicity could capture the charts. Even The Beatles took note, drawing inspiration from its dreamy mood when they recorded Sun King for Abbey Road.

The title itself draws from the great seabird, long a symbol in literature and folklore. Where Coleridge’s poem painted the albatross as a curse, Fleetwood Mac’s Albatross feels like the opposite, the bird soaring free above the ocean. Listening to it, you can almost hear the wings stretching wide over endless water. More than fifty years later, this instrumental still carries that sense of peace and flight, a reminder of how birds have inspired some of the most timeless music ever recorded.

8. Red-winged Blackbird - David Francey

A really cool folk song that showcases David Francey’s fantastic voice. Although I didn’t know much about him before this, hearing Red-Winged Blackbird makes you want to dive deeper into his music.

Canadian folk singer David Francey has a gift for turning everyday moments into timeless songs, and few capture this better than Red-Winged Blackbird. Written long before he began performing publicly, it was released on his 1999 debut album Torn Screen Door and quickly became one of his most loved works. With its simple guitar line and heartfelt delivery, it celebrates the joy of hearing the first red-winged blackbird’s call at winter’s end—a sound that signals hope and renewal after months of cold.

The lyrics picture the bird as both messenger and comforter: “Thought I heard a red-winged blackbird down my road” repeats like a refrain of joy, and the image of the bird “safe as Moses in the rushes” gives it a sense of promise and protection. Francey’s plainspoken voice and Scottish lilt make the track feel as natural as birdsong itself. More than two decades later, Red-Winged Blackbird is still sung in folk clubs, covered by other artists, and even arranged for choirs, proof that a simple ode to a common bird can take flight and become a modern folk classic.

9. I'm Like a Bird - Nelly Furtado

A song I had forgotten about until I put this list together—but I’m so glad I rediscovered it. Nelly Furtado’s unique voice makes it a fantastic track, and I must warn you: if you know this song, you won’t be able to resist singing along!

Back in 2000, a young Canadian singer named Nelly Furtado released a song that made her a global star. I’m Like a Bird captured hearts with its simple chorus and message of freedom, becoming one of the most played songs worldwide that year. It won her a Grammy, topped charts across the globe, and is still a karaoke favorite—the kind of “hairbrush song” people can’t help but belt out.

The song’s central image of a bird in flight connects with something birders know well—the pull of freedom and the search for identity that birds seem to embody. Furtado once explained, “A seagull. I was really inspired by a great book called Jonathan Livingston Seagull.” That restless, soaring image mirrors how she wrote the song. More than twenty years later, I’m Like a Bird remains an anthem not only of independence, but also of the joy that comes from letting go and following the call of the open skies.

The last song on this list is another “new-generation” track. But don’t skip it—this is a well-written song with a dreamy feel that’s easy to listen to. It might just become one you play on repeat. It also shows why Billie Eilish is considered one of the most talented artists of her generation.

10. Birds of a Feather - Billie Eilish

Billie Eilish’s Birds of a Feather has quickly become one of her most loved songs. First teased in the Netflix series Heartstopper before its official release in 2024, it captured listeners with its blend of light, pop-inspired production and lyrics that hit straight at the heart. The title draws on the old saying “birds of a feather flock together”, but Eilish turns it into a vow of devotion—two people inseparable because they’re made the same. It’s a rare love song in her catalog, and it has resonated with fans around the world.

What makes the track memorable is how it balances sweetness with Billie’s darker edge. She opens with lines about loving someone “’til I’m in the grave,” before softening into a chorus that feels like a lullaby, gently repeating “birds of a feather, we should stick together.” It’s dramatic, tender, and very Billie, an anthem of loyalty wrapped in bird imagery that makes the feeling universal and poetic. For birders, it’s another reminder of how we often look to birds not just for beauty, but as symbols of connection and belonging.

So now that we’ve looked at ten songs in this list (and ten more in the first article), I’d love to hear from you. Which bird-inspired songs do you think I missed? Which one on the list is your favourite? Music is such a personal thing, and I’m sure there are plenty of hidden gems out there that deserve a place in future lists.

As promised, here’s a bonus: a Spotify playlist with all twenty songs featured across both articles. It’s the perfect soundtrack whether you’re on a birding road trip, relaxing at home, or just wanting some music that reminds you of the skies above. Get the playlist here.