Bird Sounds
Bird songs and calls are often the first clue that a bird is nearby. Use these descriptions to learn some of the UK's most memorable sounds, from woodland hoots to garden chatter.
European Robin
Erithacus rubecula
Call: A clear, melodic warble with a wistful, descending phrase at the end.
Recording by Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Common Kingfisher
Alcedo atthis
Call: A short, sharp, high-pitched 'peep' in flight.
Recording by Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Mute Swan
Cygnus olor
Call: A variety of snorts, hisses and soft bugling notes.
Recording by Alexander Kürthy · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Tawny Owl
Strix aluco
Call: The well-known 'hoo-hoo-hoohoo' call and a sharp 'kee-wick'.
Recording by Alvaro Ortiz Troncoso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Blue Tit
Cyanistes caeruleus
Call: A high, trilling 'tsee-tsee-tsee' and various chattering notes.
Recording by Dan Stowell · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Eurasian Wren
Troglodytes troglodytes
Call: A loud, rapid, bubbling trill that seems far too big for such a small bird.
Recording by Lynsey Ireland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Great Tit
Parus major
Call: A ringing 'teacher-teacher' song and many sharp chattering calls.
Recording by Fred Van Dyck · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Common Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Call: A cheerful, descending song ending in a flourish, plus a loud 'pink' call.
Recording by Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Song Thrush
Turdus philomelos
Call: A musical song with repeated phrases, often sung from a high perch.
Recording by Tomasz Budzik · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Common Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Call: A wide repertoire of whistles, clicks and mimicry; also chattering calls.
Recording by Stanislas Wroza · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Eurasian Magpie
Pica pica
Call: A loud, harsh chattering 'mag-mag-mag' call.
Recording by Lynsey Ireland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Common Kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Call: A sharp, repeated 'kee-kee-kee' call, often in flight.
Recording by Lynsey Ireland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Common Buzzard
Buteo buteo
Call: A distinctive mewing 'pee-ah' call, often given while soaring.
Recording by Benoît Van Hecke · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
Call: A harsh, croaking 'fraank' call in flight and at the nest.
Recording by Lynsey Ireland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Call: The female's loud 'quack' and the male's softer, rasping call.
Recording by Sander Pieterse · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Dunnock
Prunella modularis
Call: A thin, warbling song with a slight squeak, often delivered from a hedge top.
Recording by Ronald VIII · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
European Greenfinch
Chloris chloris
Call: A wheezing, nasal 'dzweee' call and a rapid, twittering song.
Recording by Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Coal Tit
Periparus ater
Call: A high, repetitive 'see-see-see' call and a quick, trilling song.
Recording by Yanick Kretz · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Long-tailed Tit
Aegithalos caudatus
Call: A soft, twittering 'surr-surr-surr' contact call.
Recording by Suhail · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Eurasian Nuthatch
Sitta europaea
Call: A loud, repeated 'dwip-dwip-dwip' call and a whistling song.
Recording by Josep del Hoyo · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Eurasian Treecreeper
Certhia familiaris
Call: A thin, high-pitched 'tsee-tsee-tsee' call and a delicate, descending song.
Recording by Jens Loose · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Goldcrest
Regulus regulus
Call: A very high, thin 'zee-zee-zee' song, often too high for some people to hear.
Recording by Marie-Lan Taÿ Pamart · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Eurasian Jay
Garrulus glandarius
Call: A harsh, screaming 'wee-atch' call, often the first sign of a jay nearby.
Recording by David Torlach · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Carrion Crow
Corvus corone
Call: A deep, guttural 'caw-caw' call.
Recording by Lynsey Ireland · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Common Woodpigeon
Columba palumbus
Call: A soft, repetitive 'coo-coo-coo-coo' song, often repeated for long periods.
Recording by Tomomarusan · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
European Green Woodpecker
Picus viridis
Call: A loud, ringing 'yaffle' — a laughing, descending series of notes.
Recording by Joost van Bruggen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Pied Wagtail
Motacilla alba
Call: A sharp, metallic 'chis-wick' or 'chis-wick-wick' call.
Recording by Hannu Varkki · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Yellowhammer
Emberiza citrinella
Call: A repetitive, jingling 'a-little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese' song.
Recording by Benoît Van Hecke · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Eurasian Bullfinch
Pyrrhula pyrrhula
Call: A soft, plaintive 'peu' or 'peu-peu' call, often repeated.
Recording by Benoît Van Hecke · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Call: A deep, resonant 'kronk-kronk' call, often given in flight.
Recording by Benjamin Mayer · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Little Owl
Athene noctua
Call: A sharp, yelping 'kew-ick' or a series of whinnying calls.
Recording by Nikolaos Sarikakis · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Red Kite
Milvus milvus
Call: A high, whistling 'wee-wee-wee' call, often given in flight.
Recording by Pascal Christe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Eurasian Oystercatcher
Haematopus ostralegus
Call: A loud, piping 'kleep-kleep-kleep' call, often given in flight.
Recording by Jochem verweij · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Eurasian Curlew
Numenius arquata
Call: A haunting, bubbling 'cur-lee' call and a rising, whistling song on breeding grounds.
Recording by Pascal Christe · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Great Crested Grebe
Podiceps cristatus
Call: A low, barking 'bark' and a series of growling calls, often in display.
Recording by British Library Sound Archive · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Eurasian Blackcap
Sylvia atricapilla
Call: A loud, beautiful warble with rich, fluty notes, often ending in a chatter.
Recording by Benoît Van Hecke · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Atlantic Puffin
Fratercula arctica
Call: Low growling and grunting calls, often heard from inside nesting burrows.
Recording by British Library Sound Archive · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Sound guide
A quick reference to help you match a sound with the bird that makes it.
| Bird | Status | Call or song |
|---|---|---|
European Robin Erithacus rubecula | resident | A clear, melodic warble with a wistful, descending phrase at the end. |
Common Kingfisher Alcedo atthis | resident | A short, sharp, high-pitched 'peep' in flight. |
Mute Swan Cygnus olor | resident | A variety of snorts, hisses and soft bugling notes. |
Tawny Owl Strix aluco | resident | The well-known 'hoo-hoo-hoohoo' call and a sharp 'kee-wick'. |
Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus | resident | A high, trilling 'tsee-tsee-tsee' and various chattering notes. |
Common Pheasant Phasianus colchicus | resident | A loud, harsh, explosive 'kok-kok-kok' crowing. |
Barn Owl Tyto alba | resident | A long, blood-curdling screech, unlike the hoot of other owls. |
Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major | resident | A sharp 'kik' call and rapid drumming on resonant wood. |
Common Blackbird Turdus merula | resident | A mellow, varied song with repeated musical phrases. |
House Sparrow Passer domesticus | resident | A noisy, repetitive chirping and 'chirrup' call. |
European Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis | resident | A light, musical 'tinkling' call, often in flight. |
Common Cuckoo Cuculus canorus | summer visitor | The iconic 'cuck-oo' call, often repeated for hours. |
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica | summer visitor | A cheerful, twittering song full of liquid trills. |
Fieldfare Turdus pilaris | winter visitor | A harsh, chattering 'chack-chack' call in flight. |
Redwing Turdus iliacus | winter visitor | A thin, high 'seep' flight call and a fluty, subdued song. |
Eurasian Skylark Alauda arvensis | resident | A long, continuous, warbling song delivered high in the sky. |
Eurasian Wren Troglodytes troglodytes | resident | A loud, rapid, bubbling trill that seems far too big for such a small bird. |
Great Tit Parus major | resident | A ringing 'teacher-teacher' song and many sharp chattering calls. |
Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs | resident | A cheerful, descending song ending in a flourish, plus a loud 'pink' call. |
Song Thrush Turdus philomelos | resident | A musical song with repeated phrases, often sung from a high perch. |
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris | resident | A wide repertoire of whistles, clicks and mimicry; also chattering calls. |
Eurasian Magpie Pica pica | resident | A loud, harsh chattering 'mag-mag-mag' call. |
Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus | resident | A sharp, repeated 'kee-kee-kee' call, often in flight. |
Common Buzzard Buteo buteo | resident | A distinctive mewing 'pee-ah' call, often given while soaring. |
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea | resident | A harsh, croaking 'fraank' call in flight and at the nest. |
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos | resident | The female's loud 'quack' and the male's softer, rasping call. |
Dunnock Prunella modularis | resident | A thin, warbling song with a slight squeak, often delivered from a hedge top. |
European Greenfinch Chloris chloris | resident | A wheezing, nasal 'dzweee' call and a rapid, twittering song. |
Coal Tit Periparus ater | resident | A high, repetitive 'see-see-see' call and a quick, trilling song. |
Long-tailed Tit Aegithalos caudatus | resident | A soft, twittering 'surr-surr-surr' contact call. |
Eurasian Nuthatch Sitta europaea | resident | A loud, repeated 'dwip-dwip-dwip' call and a whistling song. |
Eurasian Treecreeper Certhia familiaris | resident | A thin, high-pitched 'tsee-tsee-tsee' call and a delicate, descending song. |
Goldcrest Regulus regulus | resident | A very high, thin 'zee-zee-zee' song, often too high for some people to hear. |
Eurasian Jay Garrulus glandarius | resident | A harsh, screaming 'wee-atch' call, often the first sign of a jay nearby. |
Carrion Crow Corvus corone | resident | A deep, guttural 'caw-caw' call. |
Common Woodpigeon Columba palumbus | resident | A soft, repetitive 'coo-coo-coo-coo' song, often repeated for long periods. |
European Green Woodpecker Picus viridis | resident | A loud, ringing 'yaffle' — a laughing, descending series of notes. |
Common Swift Apus apus | summer visitor | A high-pitched, screaming 'sreee-sreee' as parties race around rooftops. |
Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba | resident | A sharp, metallic 'chis-wick' or 'chis-wick-wick' call. |
Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella | resident | A repetitive, jingling 'a-little-bit-of-bread-and-no-cheese' song. |
Reed Bunting Emberiza schoeniclus | resident | A simple, repetitive 'tsip-tsip-tsip' followed by a short, rattling trill. |
Eurasian Bullfinch Pyrrhula pyrrhula | resident | A soft, plaintive 'peu' or 'peu-peu' call, often repeated. |
Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto | resident | A repetitive, three-note 'coo-coo-coo' with a distinctive emphasis on the second note. |
Western Jackdaw Corvus monedula | resident | A short, sharp 'kya' or 'jack-jack', higher pitched than a crow's caw. |
Common Raven Corvus corax | resident | A deep, resonant 'kronk-kronk' call, often given in flight. |
Common Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita | summer visitor | A simple, repetitive 'chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff' song from which it takes its name. |
Little Owl Athene noctua | resident | A sharp, yelping 'kew-ick' or a series of whinnying calls. |
Red Kite Milvus milvus | resident | A high, whistling 'wee-wee-wee' call, often given in flight. |
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus | resident | A loud, piping 'kleep-kleep-kleep' call, often given in flight. |
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata | resident | A haunting, bubbling 'cur-lee' call and a rising, whistling song on breeding grounds. |
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus | resident | A harsh, laughing 'kree-ah' call, often heard in flocks. |
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca | resident | A distinctive, high-pitched whistling 'preep-preep' from the male. |
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus | resident | A low, barking 'bark' and a series of growling calls, often in display. |
Eurasian Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla | summer visitor | A loud, beautiful warble with rich, fluty notes, often ending in a chatter. |
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus | summer visitor | A beautiful, melodic song that descends in a smooth, silvery cascade. |
Common House Martin Delichon urbicum | summer visitor | A hard, twittering 'prrrt' or 'tsirr' call, often given in flight. |
Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica | resident | Low growling and grunting calls, often heard from inside nesting burrows. |
Eurasian Coot Fulica atra | resident | A loud, explosive 'kowk' and various spluttering calls. |
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus | resident | A variety of sharp 'kik' and 'kurr-uk' calls. |
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula | resident | A soft, musical whistling from the male; female has a low growl. |
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo | resident | Usually silent away from colonies; at nest, makes guttural croaks and hisses. |
Grey Wagtail Motacilla cinerea | resident | A sharp, metallic 'tsit-tsit' call and a twittering song. |
Mistle Thrush Turdus viscivorus | resident | A loud, fluty song with repeated phrases, often given in windy weather. |
Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus | summer visitor | A fast, chattering, musical warble with mimicry and trills. |
Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus | summer visitor | A rhythmic, chattering warble with repeated phrases, often ending in a whistle. |
Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago | resident | A harsh 'scaap' call; males produce a haunting 'drumming' sound in display. |
Common Redshank Tringa totanus | resident | A loud, ringing 'tew-hoo-hoo' alarm call. |
Canada Goose Branta canadensis | resident | A loud, honking 'a-honk' call, often heard in flight. |
Greylag Goose Anser anser | resident | Loud, cackling calls and honks. |
Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis | winter visitor | A high-pitched, yapping 'yak-yak' call. |
Stock Dove Columba oenas | resident | A soft, rhythmic 'coo-coo-coo' song. |
Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur | summer visitor | A soft, purring 'turrr-turrr' song. |
Little Egret Egretta garzetta | resident | Usually silent; occasionally gives a harsh croak at colonies. |
Water Rail Rallus aquaticus | resident | A far-carrying, pig-like squeal and harsh clicking calls. |
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis | resident | A high-pitched, whinnying trill. |
Common Tern Sterna hirundo | summer visitor | A sharp, piercing 'kee-err' call. |
Herring Gull Larus argentatus | resident | A loud, raucous laughing call. |
Listening tips
- Dawn is best: Song activity peaks shortly after sunrise, especially in spring.
- Focus on one phrase: Pick a single repeated note or rhythm to anchor a bird's song in your memory.
- Note the habitat: A melodic song in a garden is likely a blackbird or robin; a high, trilling call over a field may be a skylark.