Bird sounds are broadly
classified into three types. There are three types of sounds:
- Calls
- Songs
- Nonverbal Sounds
In the birds’ sound arsenal, each
category serves a distinct purpose. Knowing what type of sound, a bird makes
can reveal a lot about the message the bird is sending to other birds and other
types of behavior. Let’s go over the different types of bird sounds in greater
detail.
The difference is that bird songs
are more complex and follow an obvious pattern, whereas calls are shorter,
succinct, and only about a single syllable long. You might also be surprised to
learn that male songbirds must first hear their species’ song at least once
before they can begin to sing it for themselves.
Birders who pay close attention
quickly discover that there are many different types of bird sounds, each with
its meaning and application. Understanding and distinguishing these various
bird noises is the first step in effective birding by ear and identifying birds
based on sound. It takes some practice, but any birder can use sound to
identify birds.
Voice of
Birds
Birds have a complex language
that includes a wide range of calls, songs, and sounds. Each type of sound
serves a different purpose, and birds use them in various situations.
· Birds will use the sharp, piercing calls to warn
other birds of danger and use them when they feel threatened. They are typically
brief but loud and sharp, and they can travel long distances by bird. They also
make common noises that can be quickly repeated to warn of even greater
danger. the voices bird make can also be used by aggressive or angry birds to
threaten or chase away other birds.
· The sounds of these wistful calls are made by
young birds to attract attention and may include small peeps, whines, rasps,
wheezes, and chirps. Begging calls are usually not loud, but they can be heard
in the vicinity of a nest. Even after they leave the nest, juvenile birds will
continue to use these calls because they are still dependent on their parent’s
care. Begging bird sounds are frequently accompanied by wing flutters and other
motions to attract the attention of parent birds.
· Contact calls are used by birds when they travel
in groups or to communicate with one another. These are clear but not as
piercing chirps, chips, buzzes, and other simple bird sounds that are
moderately loud. Mates may use contact calls to communicate with one another,
or they may be used to alert other nearby birds to a good food source.
· Many birds have unique calls that they only make
while flying, and these can be some of the most useful bird sounds to learn for
identifying birds. A flight call may sound similar to contact syllables or may
be slightly more musical, but they are usually used by birds to announce their
presence and location to others while moving. These calls are most common
during migration, and birders can often identify birds migrating at night by
their distinct calls, even if the birds are not visible.
Music is the most distinct and
well-known bird sounds. These are longer, more elaborate, and generally more
musical syllable strings with various uses. Songs can be used by birds to
attract mates, advertise their territory, or deter intruders.
The quality, duration, and
variation of bird songs vary according to the species, and geographic song
variations exist in bird populations. Birds may also sing at different times of
the day or only sing in the morning or evening.
Some birds only sing in the
spring, while others sing all year. Some species, such as the northern
mockingbird, are excellent mimics of the songs and unusual loud sounds of other
bird species.
Sounds That Are
Not Spoken
Many bird species use nonvocal
sounds in addition to songs and calls to communicate. Some of these sounds,
like calls or songs, can be used to attract mates, defend territory, or signal
an alarm. Nonvocal sounds include the following:
- Bill drumming, frequently on a hollow surface to
increase resonance and volume. - Wingbeats are the buzzing, clapping, or trilling
sounds made by wings in flight. - Bill snaps or clacks, usually as a result of
aggressive behavior. - Scratching sounds made by birds while foraging
in leaf litter or other debris Booms at the bottom of steep dives or from air
sacs in the throat or chest during courtship
All of these sounds can be useful
for identification, not only because of the noise but also because of
interpreting the birds’ behavior, which produces distinct nonvocal sounds.
Making Use Of Bird
Sounds
Birdwatchers who are familiar
with the various sounds made by birds can use those sounds to aid in auditory
identification. The type of call, for example, may give birders a hint as to
what to look for.
Hearing an alarm call may prompt
an alert birder to look for nearby birds of prey, whereas hearing a begging
call may prompt a search for a well-hidden nest. When a bird is spotted, the
noises it makes, including pitch, tone, rhythm, and quality, can aid in species
identification.
Birding by ear takes practice,
but birders who understand the various types of bird sounds can find and
identify birds in the field using both their ears and their eyes.
Listen to the Melodious Sounds of Birds: Discover the Beauty of Birdsong:
Frequently Ask Questions (FAQs)
Do all birds create sounds?
Most birds can make sounds via vocalizations
or other means, but not all birds do. Some bird species communicate via
physical displays or visual cues.
How do birds produce sounds?
Birds generate sound by vibrating
their syrinx, a bony structure at the base of the trachea. By controlling the
flow of air from the lungs and changing the shape of the vocal cords, the
syrinx can produce a variety of sounds. Birds can also produce different sounds
by varying the frequency and amplitude of the syrinx’s sounds. Birds have
distinct vocalizations that serve a variety of functions, including attracting
mates, establishing territory, and warning of danger. Some birds can imitate
the sounds of other animals as well as human speech.