Sounds Made by Birds for Communication

Sound is one of the most important methods birds use to communicate. These sounds can be used for a variety of reasons, which include attracting a mate, showing aggression, marking a territory and alerting flock members to a food source.The syrinx is the sound-producing organ located near the bottom of a bird's windpipe. It has two compartments, one for each lung, that can be controlled separately to combine various sounds. These sounds include honks, clicks, croaks, squeaks, whines, pops, warbles, rattles, whistles, tremelos and trilling. Learning to recognize birds sounds can make you feel closer to nature.

  1. Songs

    • A bird sings two songs. A loud one is sung only by a male. A softer one, called a whisper song, can be sung by both male and females. Songs are learned by young males imitating their father or other males. A male bird sings songs to communicate with his mate, claim territory and protect it by warning other males to stay away. Some males, like red-winged blackbirds, sing while females talk to them.

    Calls

    • Calls, unlike songs, are not musical or used in mating. Calls help coordinate behavior. They are used for immediate communication particularly to signal danger or that a food source has been found. They keep other flock members who are foraging for food informed about the whereabouts of the flock as it migrates. Calls are usually short in duration. For example, crows use a distinctive "caw-caw-caw" as a call to attention for other crows. Young birds in the nest give begging calls to parents for food.

    Drumming and Snapping

    • Specialized neck muscles and bills have evolved for some birds, so they can communicate by drumming and snapping their beaks. Woodpeckers are best known for this sound. It is very rapid and even. Owls, herons, geese and ducks snap their beaks to show aggression or demonstrate they are worried about the approach of a predator.

    Wing Sounds

    • Roughed Grouse beat their wings to make a sound similar to drumming. This sound is like a woodpecker's, but the drumming starts very slow and becomes faster. Pigeons and doves are best known for the wing sound they make as they take off. Hummingbird's wings flap at an incredible rate of speed and produce a bee-like humming sound, giving them their name.

    Diving Sounds

    • Air rushing through wings causes outer feathers to vibrate, creating a sound. When a common snipe dives, it emits a siren or bleating sound. A Wilson's snipe spreads special tail feathers as it dives, creating a sound it uses for mating.