Birds use vocalizations and calls for a variety of reasons, including communicating with each other, defending their territory, attracting mates, and signaling danger. Some bird calls are distinctive and can help identify particular species. Whistling is one type of bird vocalization that is produced by forcing air through parts of the syrinx, which is the vocal organ of birds.
Birds That Whistle
There are a number of bird species that are known for their whistling calls and songs. Some of the most common whistling birds include:
- Cardinals
- Chickadees
- Killdeer
- Meadowlarks
- Nighthawks
- Orioles
- Robins
- Tanagers
- Thrush
- Warblers
- Waxwings
- Wheatears
- Whistling Ducks
- Woodpeckers
The whistles these birds produce can vary from simple, single-note whistles to more complex, melodious whistling. The tone and pitch of the whistles can help distinguish between species. Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common whistling bird species.
Cardinals
The Northern Cardinal is known for its loud, whistled song patterns. The male’s whistles are loud and clear, often described as “cheer, cheer, cheer” or “birdie, birdie, birdie.” They whistle loudest when marking and defending their territory.
Chickadees
The song of the Black-capped Chickadee includes its well-known “chick-a-dee-dee” call interspersed with whistles. The whistles are high-pitched, clear, and can sound like “fee-bee” or “fee-bee-ee.”
Killdeer
The Killdeer gets its name from its loud, shrill “kill-deer” whistling call. These shorebirds whistle this call when alarmed or when communicating over long distances.
Meadowlarks
Meadowlarks are known for their complex, melodious whistling. The Eastern Meadowlark and Western Meadowlark both have beautiful, flute-like whistles incorporated into their songs. Their whistles carry far across grasslands.
Nighthawks
The Common Nighthawk whistles a simple “peent” call while in flight during courtship displays. The peenting whistle is thought to communicate the bird’s location between mates.
Orioles
Orioles like the Baltimore Oriole have a fluty, whistled song made up of short phrases and whistled notes. The whistling parts tend to slide up or down in pitch.
Robins
The American Robin uses whistling patterns within its tuneful and complex songs. They incorporate loud, clear whistles into their singing, often while perched high atop a tree.
Tanagers
Tanagers like the Summer Tanager use whistling calls alongside other vocalizations like buzzes and chuckles. The whistles are incorporated into songs during the breeding season.
Thrush
Many thrush species include whistling in their songs, like the Wood Thrush and Veery. Their songs feature loud, clear notes that alternate between whistles and flute-like tones.
Warblers
A number of warblers produce whistling calls, like the Yellow Warbler which has a bright, sweet whistled “sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet” song. Other whistling warblers include Pine, Prairie, and Prothonotary Warblers.
Waxwings
Waxwings like Cedar Waxwings make very high-pitched, almost squeaky, whistling calls. These social birds use whistles while perched and in flight to communicate with their flock.
Wheatears
Wheatears are medium-sized songbirds that nest in rock crevices and have a whistling call. Their calls include whistling sounds along with chatter and trills.
Whistling Ducks
As their name implies, the whistling ducks are a group of duck species that have clear, whistling calls. This includes birds like the Black-bellied Whistling Duck and Fulvous Whistling Duck.
Woodpeckers
Many woodpecker species add whistling to their calls, like the Red-headed Woodpecker which has a rolling, rattling call with a whistled “twee-twee-twee” sound. Other whistling woodpeckers include the Red-bellied, Acorn, and White-headed Woodpeckers.
Reasons Birds Whistle
Birds whistle for a variety of different reasons depending on the species. Here are some of the main reasons birds use whistling in their vocalizations:
- To attract mates – Whistling can help attract females during breeding season.
- To defend territories – Whistling songs and calls mark a bird’s territory and ward off intruders.
- Long-distance communication – The high pitch of whistles allows them to be heard over long distances.
- Flock communication – Whistles help maintain contact while in flight or among ground flocks.
- Alarm calls – Some birds whistle when alarmed or sensing danger.
- Location signaling – Whistling helps signal a bird’s location to its mate or flock.
Unique Whistling in Birds
While many birds whistle, there are some unique and interesting facts about certain bird whistles:
- The Winter Wren has one of the longest and most complex songs of any bird, with hundreds of whistled notes.
- The Yellow-rumped Warbler whistles its song while hovering in flight during its courtship display.
- Palm Cockatoos can whistle their calls so accurately that they can mimic human speech patterns.
- The Gray Catbird combines whistles, tweets, meows, chuckles, and other sounds into its elaborate song.
- The Brown Creeper sings a high-pitched rising whistle at the end of its short song.
- Lyrebirds in Australia can mimic almost any sound with astonishing accuracy, including chainsaws, car alarms, and other bird whistles.
How Birds Whistle
Birds don’t whistle through their mouths the way humans do. Instead, whistling sounds are produced by forcing air through different parts of the syrinx, which is located at the junction of the two bronchi or air passages in a bird’s trachea.
The syrinx contains membranes or folds that vibrate as air passes over them. Birds can control the syrinx and change the shape of these membranes to produce different tones, pitches, and timbres.
Strong air blasts through the syrinx cause the membranes to vibrate rapidly, producing a whistling tone. The muscular control birds have over their syrinx gives them the ability to create intricate songs and an amazing array of sounds.
Mimicking Bird Whistles
Some people can mimic simple bird whistle calls by whistling through their teeth or making high-pitched squeaking sounds with their lips or tongue. More complex bird whistles are very difficult if not impossible to duplicate with the human mouth.
However, experienced birders sometimes use whistles to attract birds or replicate their calls. For example, screech owl whistles can be used to attract curious small birds like chickadees or titmice during bird surveys. Whistling part of a territorial song may bring a bird nearer for identification.
Whistles should only be used judiciously, as excessive whistling could disrupt normal bird behaviors. With practice, simple whistles can help attract certain species to improve bird watching opportunities. But they don’t come close to replicating the intricate syrinx capabilities that allow birds to whistle their unique and beautiful songs.
Notable Whistling Birds
Common Name | Scientific Name | Description of Whistle |
---|---|---|
Winter Wren | Troglodytes hiemalis | Long, complex trilling song with hundreds of whistled notes |
European Robin | Erithacus rubecula | Incorporates clear, loud whistles into melodious song |
Gray Catbird | Dumetella carolinensis | Mimics other bird whistles in varied song |
Palm Cockatoo | Probosciger aterrimus | Can accurately whistle human speech patterns |
Yellow Warbler | Setophaga petechia | Sweet whistled “sweet sweet sweet I’m so sweet” song |
Common Nighthawk | Chordeiles minor | Simple “peent” whistle while in flight |
Conclusion
Whistling in birds serves many important purposes like attracting mates, claiming territories, signaling location, and warning of danger. From simple, single-note whistles to intricate songs, a variety of bird species incorporate this unique vocalization into their communication repertoire. Learning to recognize their whistles can help bird enthusiasts identify different species.
Understanding the special physical adaptations like the syrinx that enable birds to whistle can deepen appreciation for the complexity of avian vocal abilities. Next time you hear a charming whistle coming from the trees or sky, see if you can identify which bird is calling.