Lists

Five Great Indie/Alternative Songs Related to Birds

May 28, 2026 by Kai Pflug No Comments

I usually just write about birds, show some photos, add a few mediocre jokes, and try to sneak in one or two of my current favorite songs.

No such pretending today — just five songs that I think are musically great (I will never really like a song just for its lyrics) and that contain just enough of a birding angle to justify mentioning them here.

As I do not feel remotely capable of explaining why these songs are so good, I am quoting bits of the lyrics instead. Otherwise, the post would be too short.

Skip this post if you are not interested in music.

The Burning Hell: Birdwatching

I have an allergy to strategy and inspirational quotations
My reaction’s anaphylactic to vocations or to nations
I’m digging moats and burning flags, and bridges just as a precaution
If you need me, I’ll be sitting on this island, birdwatching

The National: The Geese of Beverly Road

We won’t be disappointed
We’ll fight like girls for our place at the table
Our room on the floor
We’ll set off the geese of Beverly Road

Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band: Free from the Guillotine

Soon I’ll be seen as a problem or the neighbors
Soon l’Il be seen as a trophy for the precinct
Soon I’ll be seen as a willingly endangered bird
About to fly south

Mekons: Shocking Curse Bird

Unblinking, the bird flies high
Everything is black
But not as black as
The curse bird’s eye

Pixies: Bird Dream of the Olympus Mons

Sun shines in the rusty morning
Once I had a good fly

Cover image found here – I hope the link compensates for the use of the illustration by The Burning Hell.

Written by Kai Pflug
Kai has lived in Shanghai for 22 years. He only started birding after moving to China, so he is far more familiar with Chinese birds than the ones back in his native Germany. As a birder, he considers himself strictly average and tries to make up for it with photography, which he shares on a separate website. Alas, most of the photos are pretty average as well. He hopes that few clients of his consulting firm—focused on China’s chemical industry—ever find this blog, as it might raise questions about his professional priorities. Much of his time is spent either editing posts for 10,000 Birds or cleaning the litter boxes of his numerous indoor cats. He occasionally considers writing a piece comparing the two activities.