Absurd Creature of the Week: The Bird That Does Unbelievable Impressions of Chainsaws, Car Alarms. Behold the superb lyrebird, whose calls are surely the most impressive in the animal kingdom.
Which bird makes this distinctive sound? It's a Kookaburra!
Australian Magpie Mimics Sound of Emergency Sirens.
Fire alarms, car alarms, and the worst of them – the alarm clock! Mother Nature also has an alarm clock, but thankfully, it is not as rude as that last one. The blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) is native to North America and is one noisy, bold and aggressive bird.
Hear the Real-Life Call of the Greater Roadrunner.
The Wolo BA-64 produces a loud bird chirping sound when vehicle is put into reverse. Small in size, for easier installation. The warning sound can be a life saver. Easily installs to any 12-volt vehicle with one (1) wire.
Birds give alarm calls when they see a predator, and in many cases they even have calls specific to an avian predator like a hawk or owl.
Alarm calls can be wide-bandwidth, loud and short to attract birds from farther away to come mob a predator. Other calls can be shorter bandwidth, high-pitched “seets”that don't travel as far as individual sounds, but spread quickly from bird to bird to warn of a predator on the move.
Alarm calls
In the vocabulary of some birds, there is one alarm call specifically to warn of aerial predators, and another alarm call used in other circumstances, for example, when a ground enemy appears.
Laughing kookaburra
This nostalgic Australian icon can be found in open forests across the country, particularly in gumtrees, and are often heard in suburbs around the Adelaide Hills. Its loud cackle of 'koo-koo-koo-koo-koo-kaa-kaa-kaa' is often sung in a chorus with other kookaburras.
Found in the mountain forests of the north-eastern Amazon—”in the Guianas, with small numbers in Venezuela and the Brazilian state of Pará“—the birds' call sounds metallic, like an electronic warning system alarm. Hear the white bellbird, the loudest bird ever recorded, in the above video by Anselmo d'Affonseca.
Brewer's Blackbirds often make a tchup or chuk similar to the calls of other blackbirds, and used in a manner scientists have called “conversational in nature.” A more intense, slightly higher pitched version of this call is used as an alarm, to chase off intruders, and when carrying food for young.
Named for the often-heard “curra-wong” call, Pied Currawongs make a range of other vocalisations including loud ringing calls, gurgles and whistles.
The lyrebird is considered one of Australia's best-known birds — you might recognise them from our 10 cent coin — but do we really know them? Famed for their spectacular courtship display, you may have seen footage of lyrebirds mimicking human noises such as chainsaws and camera clicks.
It can benefit from constant adjustment to flock-mates' sensitivities and take-off times, and adjustment to one's own current weight, which varies rapidly in birds. My “fire drill” hypothesis posits that because of these potential benefits, false alarm flighting is a kind of beneficial motor practice.
They might be warning others of the threat, but they might also be telling the predator, "I've seen you." Yorzinski used a ring of directional microphones around a birdcage to record the songs of dark-eyed juncos, yellow-rumped warblers, house finches and other birds as they were shown a stuffed owl.
Like many owls, Barred Owls initiate their vocal courtship in winter. And they're among the most vocal. These owls have more than a dozen calls, ranging from a "siren call" to a "wail" to a wonderfully entertaining "monkey call." Barred Owls are among the largest owls in North America.
Once paired, the alarm can be activated and deactivated in the app simply by sliding the clearly-marked toggle left or right. That's it!
Calls are sometimes used to notify other birds in their flock, or family group, that a newly discovered food source is nearby. Young birds use begging calls to tell their parents that they wish to be fed. Songs are used when birds are claiming or protecting their territory or to attract a mate.
The most talented talker can also be a skilled screamer. Screaming or loud vocalization is a natural way for wild parrots and other birds to communicate with each other in their flock environments. They will also scream if they are alarmed. Birds will vocalize if they are frightened, bored, lonely, stressed, or unwell.
Gray Catbirds
These astonishing birds are also amazing mimics. They can make sounds like car alarms and other alarms or sirens and have even been known to mimic human babies' cries or laughter!
Fishes use electric signals to communicate. Whenever they sense the presence of a predator in their area, they warn the other fishes by giving warning calls in the form of electric signals.
Norway rat social calls include shrill squeals and whistles and a screaming alarm call. Can be confused with: Other rodent species make similar sounds to Norway rats.