BIRDS in Southampton could have shorter lifespans, according to new research.

A study has found that the sound of traffic can shorten a bird’s lifespan after baby sparrows were exposed to urban noise and aged quicker compared to those who experienced relative peace and quiet.

Scientists played traffic noise to nesting boxes containing breeding pairs and to newborn chicks for six hours a day while exposing a control group of parents and their 16 chicks to the rural background noise of the study site.

The study was completed in France’s National Centre for Scientific Research and could affect birds in the city.

Researchers discovered that while health of the chicks exposed to the urban noise did not differ there was evidence in that suggested they would die younger.