Birds calls

Crows, Jays, and Starlings

  • American Crow

  • Call: Harsh, cawing sounds

  • Sound: "Caw! Caw! Caw!"

  • Blue Jay

  • Call: Loud, screechy vocals

  • Sound: "Jay! Jay!"; known for mimicking hawks

  • Common Grackle

  • Call: Harsh, creaky sound

  • Sound: "readle-eak!"

Finches and Sparrows

  • American Goldfinch

  • Call: Musical, high-pitched tones

  • Sounds: "per-chick-o-ree" or "potato chip"

  • Chipping Sparrow

  • Call: Fast, dry trill

  • Sound: "chip-chip-chip-chip"

  • House Finch

  • Call: Cheerful and warbling song

  • Characteristics: Up-and-down notes

  • Song Sparrow

  • Call: Mix of clear whistles and buzzy trills

Robins, Thrushes, and Mimic Birds

  • American Robin

  • Call: Melodious sounds

  • Sound: "cheerily, cheer up, cheer up, cheerily, cheer up."

  • Brown Thrasher

  • Call: Varied, rich song

  • Characteristic: Phrases repeated twice

  • Northern Mockingbird

  • Call: Long, mimicking song

  • Characteristic: Repeats phrases more than three times

  • Wood Thrush

  • Call: Haunting sound

  • Sound: Flute-like "ee-oh-lay"

Wrens, Chickadees, and Nuthatches

  • Brown-headed Nuthatch

  • Call: High-pitched, squeaky sound

  • Sound: "rubber-ducky"

  • Carolina Chickadee

  • Call: High, whistled

  • Sound: "fee-bee-fee-bay"

  • Carolina Wren

  • Call: Loud, rolling sounds

  • Sound: "tea-kettle, tea-kettle, tea-kettle"

  • Tufted Titmouse

  • Call: Whistled sound

  • Sound: "peter-peter-peter"

  • White-breasted Nuthatch

  • Call: Nasal, laughing sound

  • Sound: "yank-yank"

Woodpeckers

  • Downy Woodpecker

  • Call: High, descending sound

  • Additional sound: Rapid drum

  • Pileated Woodpecker

  • Call: Loud, ringing sound

  • Sound: "wick-a-wick-a-wick"

  • Red-bellied Woodpecker

  • Call: Rolling, nasal sound

  • Sound: "churr"

  • Red-headed Woodpecker

  • Call: Sharp, shrill sound

  • Sound: "queer!"

  • Northern Flicker

  • Call: Loud, laughing sound

  • Sound: "wick-a-wick-a-wick"

Owls and Hawks

  • Barred Owl

  • Call: Deep hooting

  • Sound: "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?"

  • Cooper’s Hawk

  • Call: Fast, sharp sounds

  • Sound: "kek-kek-kek"

  • Red-shouldered Hawk

  • Call: Clear, rising sound

  • Sound: "kee-yer"

  • Red-tailed Hawk

  • Call: High, descending sound

  • Sound: "keeeeer"

Small Songbirds and Doves

  • Eastern Bluebird

  • Call: Soft, musical sound

  • Sound: "cheer, cheerful charmer"

  • Eastern Phoebe

  • Call: Raspy sound

  • Sound: "fee-bee"

  • Eastern Towhee

  • Call: Bold and assertive

  • Sound: "drink-your-tea!"

  • European Starling

  • Call: Mix of whistles, clicks, and mimicry

  • Mourning Dove

  • Call: Soft, mournful sound

  • Sound: "coo-woo-woo-woo"

  • Northern Cardinal

  • Call: Clear, whistled

  • Sound: "cheer-cheer-cheer" or "birdie-birdie-birdie"

  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird

  • Call: Rapid, buzzing sounds

  • Sound: "chirp-chirp"