Birds make a variety of calls, songs, and sounds with a language as complex as any spoken words. Each type of sound has a different purpose, and birds use them in different circumstances. Some of the sounds that birds make include:

• Songs: These are typically longer and more complex than calls, and are often used to attract mates or defend territory. Different species of birds have different songs, and males are usually the ones that sing.

• Calls: These are shorter and simpler than songs, and are used for a variety of purposes such as warning of danger, keeping in contact with other birds, or begging for food. Both males and females can make calls.

• Nonvocal sounds: In addition to songs and calls, many bird species also incorporate nonvocal sounds into their language. Some of these sounds can function similarly to calls or songs, such as attracting mates, defending territory, or signaling alarm. Different types of nonvocal sounds include:

  • Bill drumming, often on a hollow surface to produce greater resonance and volume
  • Wingbeats or buzzing, clapping, or trilling sounds the wings make in flight
  • Bill snaps or clacks, often from aggressive behavior
  • Scratching noises as birds forage in leaf litter or other debris
  • Booms at the bottom of steep dives or from throat or chest air sacs during courtship

Birders who are familiar with the different sounds birds make can use those sounds for auditory identification. For example, the type of call may give birders a clue of what to look for. Hearing an alarm call may prompt an observant birder to search for birds of prey nearby, while hearing a begging call may initiate a search for a well-hidden nest. When the bird is spotted, the noises it makes, including the pitch, tone, rhythm, and quality, can help in identification.