Gildfinch Birds

Taghreed Hassoun (Chirping Goldfinch)

• Taghrid Hassoun

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Among the more anomalous items in our archive, this cassette of recorded goldfinch (hasoon) songs reflects a broader cassette-era phenomenon found across parts of Asia and Africa — including Syria — where bird song recordings were sold to attract birds. In local markets, such tapes were used by merchants to lure birds, often migratory, for resale — a practice later met with condemnation for being disruptive to natural migratory behaviors and contributing to over-trapping. Many listeners valued these recordings simply for their sound, drawn to the beauty of the bird’s voice. The goldfinch holds a distinct place in Syrian cultural imagination, often cited in poetry and song as a metaphor for vocal beauty. To this day, the hasoon remains a symbol of beauty and musicality in Syrian culture — it’s even considered a compliment to tell someone their voice is like that of a goldfinch. During the late 20th century, some Syrians specialized in raising and recording goldfinches, developing a detailed terminology to describe their phrasing, tone, and song structure. Expert listeners could distinguish between individual birds, and enthusiasts from across the Arab world travelled to Syria to acquire prized birds, some valued at up to two thousand dollars.