What is a calling bird?

A calling bird is a term often used in the popular Christmas carol "The Twelve Days of Christmas." In the song, a calling bird is described as one of the gifts given by a true love on the fourth day of Christmas. However, the term "calling bird" is believed to be a misinterpretation or variation of the original term "colly bird," which is an old English term for a blackbird.

In reality, there is no specific bird species called a "calling bird." The term is simply used in the song to represent the gift of birds given by a true love to their beloved.