Meadow & FeatherBird songs and calls
What does that bird sound like? Press play to hear real recordings of 114 birds, 190 recordings in all, each with the song described in words.
Every recording was made by a birder or a sound archive and shared on xeno-canto, iNaturalist or Wikimedia Commons under a free license; the recordist is named under each one. Start with your own backyard, then travel. Heard something after dark? See birds at night.
BackyardNorthwest forestDesert scrubLake and wetlandSea cliffsTropical rainforestAfrican savannaAustralian bushGarden pondCity parkMountain lake
Backyard Eastern North America
Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
Loud, clear whistles like "cheer-cheer-cheer" or "birdie-birdie-birdie", and a sharp metallic chip.
Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
Loud "jay-jay" screams, soft bell-like calls and a good imitation of a Red-shouldered Hawk.
American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
A long, bright series of twitters and warbles; in flight it calls "po-ta-to-chip".
American Robin Turdus migratorius
A cheerful caroling "cheerily, cheer up, cheer up", often one of the first songs at dawn.
Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus
A whistled "fee-bee" and the famous "chick-a-dee-dee-dee"; more "dee" notes mean a bigger threat.
Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor
A loud whistled "peter-peter-peter".
Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens
A soft "pik" call and a high whinny that falls in pitch; it drums fast on wood in spring.
Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
A soft, sad "coo-OO-oo, woo, woo, woo"; its wings whistle on takeoff.
House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus
A long, cheery warble that often ends in a rising "zeee".
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
A musical trill on one pitch; calls are sharp "tick" and "tsip" notes.
Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
A very loud, rolling "teakettle-teakettle-teakettle".
White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
A fast series of nasal "wha-wha-wha" notes and a "yank" call.
Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula
Rich, flute-like whistles in short phrases, and a rattling chatter.
Barred Owl Strix varia
Rich hooting: "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you-all?"
Northwest forest Pacific Northwest, Washington State
Steller's Jay Cyanocitta stelleri
Harsh "shook-shook-shook" calls and imitations of hawks.
Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius
A single long, buzzy whistle, then another on a different pitch.
Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus
A buzzy trill, and a cat-like "mew" call.
Chestnut-backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens
A hoarse, high "tsick-a-dee-dee"; it has no whistled song.
Pacific Wren Troglodytes pacificus
A long, tumbling song of rapid trills and warbles.
Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis
A nasal "yank-yank", like a tiny tin horn.
Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus
A loud, whinnying "wuk-wuk-wuk" and deep, slow drumming.
Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
A loud, rolling "wik-wik-wik" and a sharp "kyeer" call.
Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa
Very high, thin "tsee-tsee-tsee" notes rising into a chatter.
Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna
A scratchy, buzzy song, and a loud chirp at the bottom of the male's dive.
Desert scrub Sonoran Desert, Arizona and Mexico
Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus
A slow series of dove-like coos falling in pitch, and a clattering of the bill.
Cactus Wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
A harsh, rasping "cha-cha-cha-cha", like a car that will not start.
Gambel's Quail Callipepla gambelii
A loud "chi-CA-go-go" call, plus grunts and clucks within the covey.
Gila Woodpecker Melanerpes uropygialis
A loud, rolling "churr" and sharp "yip" notes.
Curve-billed Thrasher Toxostoma curvirostre
A sharp "whit-wheet!" call and a long, varied song.
Verdin Auriparus flaviceps
Clear whistled "tee-tee-tee" notes and sharp "chip" calls.
Phainopepla Phainopepla nitens
A soft, low "wurp" call and a short warble.
Pyrrhuloxia Cardinalis sinuatus
Clear, sharp whistles, thinner than a cardinal's.
Costa's Hummingbird Calypte costae
A thin, very high whistle that rises and falls.
Black-throated Sparrow Amphispiza bilineata
A bright, tinkling song of a few notes and a trill.
Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia
A soft "coo-coooo", and a rattlesnake-like hiss from the burrow.
Lake and wetland North American lakes and marshes
Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
A deep, harsh croak when disturbed.
Great Egret Ardea alba
A low, croaking "cuk-cuk".
Green Heron Butorides virescens
A loud, sharp "skeow" when flushed.
Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon
A loud, dry rattle.
Wood Duck Aix sponsa
Females give a squealing "oo-eek"; males a thin, rising whistle.
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos
The classic loud "quack" is the female; males give a quieter, raspy call.
Canada Goose Branta canadensis
Loud honking "ah-honk".
Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus
A gurgling "conk-la-ree!" ending in a trill.
Sea cliffs North Atlantic coast, in summer
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica
Silent at sea; in the burrow a low, growling "arr-arr-arr".
Common Murre Uria aalge
Loud, growling "arrr" calls at crowded colonies.
Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla
A nasal "kitti-waaake" at the colony.
Northern Gannet Morus bassanus
A harsh "arrah-arrah" at the colony.
Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Cackling and grunting calls at the nest.
Common Eider Somateria mollissima
Males give a soft, cooing "ah-OOO".
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle
A thin, high whistle.
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea
Harsh "kee-arr" calls; it dive-bombs intruders.
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus
Loud piping "kleep-kleep", often in noisy groups.
Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis
A short, musical warble.
Tropical rainforest Central and South America
Keel-billed Toucan Ramphastos sulfuratus
A dry, croaking "krrrek", like a frog, repeated over and over.
Scarlet Macaw Ara macao
Very loud, harsh screeches, often given by pairs flying side by side.
Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno
A mellow, whistled "kyow" repeated in pairs.
Lesson's Motmot Momotus lessonii
A soft, deep, owl-like "hoot-hoot", mostly at dawn.
Blue-gray Tanager Thraupis episcopus
A squeaky, twittering song.
Passerini's Tanager Ramphocelus passerinii
Cheerful whistled phrases and sharp "chip" calls.
Clay-colored Thrush Turdus grayi
A rich, slow, caroling song, mostly at the start of the rainy season.
Rufous-tailed Hummingbird Amazilia tzacatl
Dry, buzzy chips and twitters.
Collared Aracari Pteroglossus torquatus
A sharp, high "pseek" or "ksik".
Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus
A loud, cheerful "kis-ka-DEE".
African savanna Southern and East Africa, at sunset
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus
Harsh, rasping "rak-rak" calls.
Superb Starling Lamprotornis superbus
A long, chattering song, with notes copied from other birds.
Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus
A swizzling, chattering song.
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
A loud, harsh, cackling "kek-kek-kek".
Gray Go-away-bird Crinifer concolor
A drawn-out, nasal "gwaaay" or "go-way".
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis
Harsh metallic calls and clever copies of other animals.
Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis
A soft, bubbling "oo-oo-oo-OO-oo", like gentle laughter.
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii
A long, fast, purring trill like an alarm clock.
Australian bush Eastern Australia, among gum trees
Galah Eolophus roseicapilla
Loud, high "chet" screeches from flocks, and softer chatter.
Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus moluccanus
Shrill screeches in flight and nonstop chattering while it feeds.
Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae
A loud laughing chorus, "koo-koo-koo-ka-ka-ka", sung by family groups at dawn and dusk.
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo Cacatua galerita
An ear-splitting, raucous screech.
Superb Fairywren Malurus cyaneus
A fast, high, reeling trill.
Australian Magpie Gymnorhina tibicen
A rich, flute-like warbling carol, often sung by the whole group together.
Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans
Clear, bell-like whistles and harsh screeches in flight.
Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria australis
A monotone piping "chop-chop", often one of the first songs at dawn.
Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys
A sweet chattering "sweet pretty creature", and a scolding rattle.
Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala
Loud piping "pwee-pwee" and harsh scolding chatter.
Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides
A deep, soft "oom-oom-oom" repeated at night.
Emu Dromaius novaehollandiae
Deep booming and drumming sounds made with an air sac in the neck.
Garden pond East Asia, at the Summer Palace in Beijing
Mandarin Duck Aix galericulata
Mostly quiet; males give a short whistle.
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis
A shrill whistled "tseee" as it flashes low over the water.
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Croaking "gark" calls at the colony.
Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus
Mostly silent; a harsh squawk when flushed.
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
A flat, barking "quok" at dusk.
Azure-winged Magpie Cyanopica cyanus
A rasping, rising "zhreee" and quick chattering.
Light-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus sinensis
Cheerful, chattering whistled phrases.
Spotted Dove Spilopelia chinensis
A soft, repeated "coo-croo-oo".
Eurasian Tree Sparrow Passer montanus
Cheerful chirping.
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
A loud, whinnying trill.
Black-naped Oriole Oriolus chinensis
Rich, fluty whistles.
City park Europe, in a London park
European Robin Erithacus rubecula
A sweet, wistful warble sung all year, sometimes at night under streetlights.
Eurasian Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus
A fast "tsee-tsee-tsu-hu-hu-hu" and scolding churrs.
Great Tit Parus major
A loud, two-note "tea-cher, tea-cher".
Eurasian Blackbird Turdus merula
A rich, slow, fluting song, often from a rooftop at dusk.
Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs
A cheerful, descending rattle that ends with a flourish.
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis
Liquid, tinkling twitters.
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
A sharp "kik" call; in spring it drums very fast on wood.
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius
A harsh, screaming "skaaak"; it also imitates other birds.
Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea
Loud whistles, "dwip-dwip", and fast trills.
Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus
A soft, five-note coo, often written "take TWO cows, Taffy".
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus
Thin "see-see-see" notes and rolling "tsirrup" calls as flocks move through the trees.
Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Soft, low, piping "phew" whistles.
Mountain lake Eastern Himalayas, Yunnan, China, at about 3,700 m
Black-necked Crane Grus nigricollis
Loud, trumpeting duets between mates.
Ruddy Shelduck Tadorna ferruginea
Loud, honking "aang" calls, like a goose.
Bar-headed Goose Anser indicus
Soft, nasal honking.
White Wagtail Motacilla alba
A twittering song and a sharp "chis-ick" call.
Red-billed Chough Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax
A loud, ringing "chee-ow".
Plumbeous Redstart Phoenicurus fuliginosus
A thin, scratchy song and a sharp "streee" call.
Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops
A soft, hollow "oop-oop-oop".
Oriental Turtle-Dove Streptopelia orientalis
A soft, hoarse "coo-coo-coo-coo".
No free recording yet for Little Bee-eater, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Razorbill and Brown-headed Gull.
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