There are a few British birds that are known for making clicking or clacking sounds. The most likely culprit is the stonechat, a small passerine bird found throughout much of Europe. Stonechats use clicking calls to communicate and defend their territories. Other possibilities include the snipe, a wading bird that makes a drumming or bleating sound during courtship flights, and the corncrake, a secretive grassland bird that produces a repetitive clicking call. Determining exactly which British bird is making a clicking call requires careful listening and observation of their appearance and behavior.
The Stonechat
The stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) is a widespread and familiar farmland bird in Britain. Male stonechats are distinctive with their black heads and orange-red breasts. Females and juveniles are browner in color. Stonechats perch upright on the top of shrubs, rocks, or fence posts while scanning for insect prey.
When perched, stonechats frequently give short, sharp clicking calls. These calls are used to keep in contact with their mates and to announce themselves when defending their breeding territories. The clicks are produced by snapping the bill shut. Stonechats also have melodious, warbling songs, but the clicking call is their most diagnostic sound.
Stonechats are resident in Britain, remaining on their breeding grounds year-round. Their habitats include heathland, moorland, grassland with scattered scrub, farmland, open woodland, and coastal areas. Stonechats breed across the UK and Ireland from April to August. They build nests low in shrubs and hedgerows.
Identifying Stonechats
Several features help identify stonechats:
- Small, robin-sized birds around 12-13 cm in length
- Upright stance when perched on elevated sites
- Constant tail flicking, similar to northern wheatears
- Male has black head, white collar, and orange-red underparts
- Female and juveniles are browner overall
- Frequently give short clicking calls
- Found in open areas with scattered bushes and small trees
If you hear clicking calls coming from an upright small perching bird in open countryside or farmland, especially near scrubby hedgerows, the bird making the sound is most likely a stonechat.
Reasons Stonechats Click
Stonechats use their clicking calls for several important reasons:
- Contact calls between mates – Clicking keeps a pair connected when they are apart.
- Signal location to young stonechats – Adults click to reveal their location to hidden chicks.
- Defend territories – More intense clicking is used against intruders.
- Alert calls – Clicks warn of potential danger like predators.
By listening for patterns in the clicking sounds, it’s possible to discern why stonechats are calling. Frequent soft clicking indicates peaceful contact between mates or young. Louder, faster clicks often signify an aggressive response to a territorial intrusion by other stonechats.
Other Possibilities: Snipe and Corncrake
While stonechats are the most likely source of clicking calls in most situations, two other British birds sometimes make similar sounds.
Common Snipe
The common snipe (Gallinago gallinago) is a well-camouflaged wading bird found in wet meadows and bogs across Britain. During the breeding season, male snipes put on spectaculardisplay flights high over their territories. At the climax of these bounding, spiraling flights, air rushing through the snipe’s outer tail feathers makes a pulsing, throbbing sound – not exactly clicking, but a unique bleating or drumming.
Listen for this unusual sound on summer evenings in areas of marshy ground where snipe may breed. The displaying male will eventually descend back to earth with a zig-zagging motion.
Corncrake
The corncrake (Crex crex) is a highly threatened species in Britain, but populations still persist in Scotland, primarily on the islands. Corncrakes hide in tall vegetation like meadows and Iris beds, where they are difficult to see. However, they regularly give a repetitive clicking or groaning call that betrays their presence.
Corncrake calls are most noticeable at night when the birds are most active. The mechanical-sounding clicks carry some distance. Follow up on any clicking calls heard near areas of overgrown vegetation in Scotland to determine if the secretive corncrake is responsible.
Conclusion
In summary, the stonechat is the most likely source of clicking calls among British birds, especially in lowland rural areas and open country with scattered bushes. Listen for the repetitive sharp clicking sounds and watch for a small upright perching bird with a black head to confirm stonechats. Snipes display over wetlands by making throbbing sounds in flight, while corncrakes click from dense vegetation, mainly in Scotland. Becoming familiar with the typical habitats and appearances of clicking species will help pinpoint the bird behind the sounds.
Species | Locations | Descriptions of Clicking Sounds |
---|---|---|
Stonechat | Farmland, moorland, scrub, open woodland across UK & Ireland | Short sharp clicking sounds used for contact, alerts, and territory defense |
Snipe | Marshes, bogs, wet meadows | Bleating or drumming sounds during aerial courtship displays |
Corncrake | Overgrown vegetation, mainly in Scotland | Mechanical-sounding repetitive clicks |
How to Attract Clicking Birds
If you’d like to observe the birds that make clicking sounds more easily, you can follow these tips to attract them to your garden or other areas:
Stonechats
- Plant low native shrubs like blackthorn and hawthorn
- Leave areas of long grass and scattered short trees/shrubs
- Create small rock piles or walls as perches
- Avoid disturbing possible nesting areas in spring and early summer
Snipe
- Maintain wet areas like marshy ground or boggy areas of streams
- Allow vegetation in wet areas to grow tall
- Minimize disturbance and predators around wetlands
Corncrakes
- Allow meadows and grassy areas to grow unmown through summer
- Allow vegetation like nettles and Iris to grow thickly
- Avoid applying pesticides or herbicides near possible corncrake areas
Making your land attractive for these species will increase your chances of hearing their unique clicking calls and catching sight of these sometimes secretive birds.
Threats Facing Clicking Birds
Unfortunately, some of Britain’s clicking species have experienced significant population declines. Understanding the threats they face can help efforts to protect them:
Species | Major Threats |
---|---|
Stonechat | Habitat loss, agricultural intensification, severe winters |
Snipe | Habitat destruction, drainage of wetlands |
Corncrake | Hay cutting during breeding season, habitat loss |
Protecting each species requires tailored conservation actions:
- Stonechats: Maintain hedgerows, patches of shrubby vegetation, reduce pesticide use
- Snipe: Conserve wetlands, avoid drainage, delay mowing of wet meadows
- Corncrakes: Delay mowing until after breeding, allow tall vegetation to grow
Implementing such measures on farmland, wetlands, and conservation land will give clicking birds the habitat and conditions they need to thrive.
Spotting Clicking Birds in Britain
Now that you know which British birds make clicking sounds, where can you go to try to spot them? Here are some top sites:
Stonechat
- Dartmoor, Devon
- Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire
- Forest of Bowland, Lancashire
- Burnham Beeches, Buckinghamshire
- Tring Reservoirs, Hertfordshire
Snipe
- Somerset Levels
- Radnorshire, Wales
- Redgrave and Lopham Fen, Suffolk
- Woodwalton Fen, Cambridgeshire
- Lake Vyrnwy, Powys
Corncrake
- Islay, Inner Hebrides
- North Uist, Outer Hebrides
- Tiree, Inner Hebrides
- Orkney Islands
- Anglesey, North Wales
Visiting these destinations at the right time of year will give you an excellent chance of glimpsing Britain’s clicking bird species. A little patience and careful listening for the distinctive sounds should reveal where they are hiding in the vegetation.
Fun Facts About Clicking Birds
Here are some fascinating facts about the stonechat, snipe, and corncrake:
- The stonechat is a member of the chat genus Saxicola, derived from Latin meaning ‘rock’ and ‘dweller’
- Snipe drumming sounds were thought in medieval times to be caused by winds trapped under the bird’s wings
- Corncrakes can make up to 20,000 clicking calls per hour during the breeding season
- Young stonechats learn their songs and calls by imitating their parents
- Stonechats maintain territories throughout the year instead of migrating
- A group of snipe is called a “walk”, “whisper”, or “wisp” of snipe
- Corncrakes migrate over 2,500 miles from Britain to southern Africa for the winter
- The tails of male snipes have outer tail feathers adapted to create drumming noises
- Stonechat numbers crashed during the severe winter of 1962-63
- A corncrake’s clicking call can carry over 600 meters
These remarkable birds have captivated people with their sounds and behaviors for centuries. Careful stewardship is needed so their clicks, drums, and calls persist well into the future.
Conclusion
In summary, the bird most likely producing regular clicking sounds in the British countryside is the stonechat, identifiable by its black head and upright stance. Stonechats click to communicate with mates and defend territories. Snipes create throbbing, drumming sounds in aerial displays over marshes, while the secretive corncrake clicks from dense vegetation in western areas like Scotland. Recognizing habitat clues helps pinpoint the source of clicking. Providing suitable habitat helps maintain clicking bird populations. With patience, anyone exploring the British outdoors can experience the unique sounds of these special birds. Hopefully this article provides helpful facts and background about the stonechat, snipe, corncrake, and other clicking British birds.