There are a few birds that make a “chew chew chew” sound. The most likely culprits are seed-eating birds like finches and sparrows. When these birds eat seeds, they often make a repetitive chewing or crunching sound with their beaks. This can sound like “chew chew chew” to our ears. Other possibilities include nuthatches, chickadees, and some species of woodpecker. Identifying the exact species can require listening closely to the pattern, speed, pitch, and quality of the “chew chew chew” sound. But in general, small seedeaters like finches and sparrows are the most common birds that make this sound.
Finches
Finches are small perching birds that are widespread across North America. There are several different finch species, but some of the most common ones that make a “chew chew chew” sound include:
– House finch: A sparrow-sized finch with a stout beak often found in backyards and parks. Males have red heads and breasts while females are brown-streaked.
– American goldfinch: A bright yellow finch with black wings and cap. Their “chew chew chew” is fast-paced and high-pitched.
– Pine siskin: A small finch with yellow streaks and a notched tail. They make rattling “chew chew” calls while eating seeds.
– Purple finch: Males are raspberry red across the body with white streaks. Females are brown-striped. They make a slow, drawling “chew chew chew.”
Finches have thick, strong beaks perfect for crunching seeds and hard foods. As they bite down repeatedly to break open sunflower seeds, nyjer seeds, or conifer seeds, the motion creates a repetitive “chew chew chew” sound. This chewing call is especially noticeable when flocks of finches are gathered at bird feeders or natural food sources.
Sparrows
Sparrows are another very common backyard bird that makes a chewing noise similar to “chew chew chew” when eating. Some of the most widespread sparrow species include:
– House sparrow: Plump brown-gray birds with black streaks on males and plain brown on females. Abundant at feeders and in urban areas.
– Chipping sparrow: A small sparrow with a rusty cap and black line through the eye. Common in yards and parks.
– Song sparrow: Medium-sized sparrows with long tails and spotted breasts. They make loud cheeps mixed with crunching sounds.
– White-throated sparrow: Distinctive yellow lores and white throat stripes. Found foraging on the ground with a slow “chew chew chew.”
Sparrows have short, triangular bills perfect for cracking open small seeds. The chewing motion of their jaws creates a repetitive “chew chew chew” sound as they eat. This is most noticeable when multiple sparrows are feeding on the ground together.
Other Birds That Make “Chew Chew Chew” Sounds
While finches and sparrows are the most likely culprits, some other birds can also make a chewing noise that sounds like “chew chew chew”:
– Chickadees: Small birds with round heads and tails. Black-capped chickadees are widespread across North America. As they eat, their sharp “chick-a-dee” call is sometimes interspersed with crunching “chew” notes.
– Nuthatches: Small birds that crawl up and down tree trunks. Red-breasted and white-breasted nuthatches make short, hard “chew” calls as they pound seeds in crevices.
– Downy woodpecker: A small black and white woodpecker. Makes a fast repetitive “kut kut kut” drilling sound that can sound like “chew chew chew.”
– Northern flicker: A brown woodpecker with black spots. Often makes a loud “klew klew klew” call while hammering on trees that resembles chewing.
So while finches and sparrows are the most likely sources, listening for chickadees, nuthatches, or small woodpeckers is also worth a try if you hear a repetitive “chew chew chew” outside your window.
Identifying the Call
Here are some tips for identifying and confirming the bird making a “chew chew chew” sound:
– Listen for the speed and rhythm – A fast, high-pitched “chew-chew-chew” is often a finch. Slower and lower-pitched is more sparrow-like. Sporadic chewing mixed with drilling is a woodpecker.
– Note the habitat – Seedeaters like finches and sparrows prefer open grassy areas, yards, fields, and feeders. Woodpeckers drill on tree trunks.
– Look for visual clues – Watch for flashes of color from purple/red finches or the zigzagging flight of goldfinches. See brown streaking on sparrows. Spotlight black and white on woodpeckers.
– Record and compare – Try recording the sound and comparing it to audio of known birds making chewing calls. Listen for unique details.
– Consider range maps – Compare the birds known to make “chew” sounds in your area based on range maps. This can help narrow it down regionally.
With good listening skills and attention to the habitat, speed, pitch, pattern, visuals, and location, you can positively identify the bird species making a “chew chew chew” call in many cases. Regional bird guides and audio recordings are also very helpful for narrowing down the exact source.
Why Birds Make This Chewing Sound
The chewing or crunching sound is made as birds use their strong beaks to crack open hard seeds and nuts in order to access the inner nutritious contents. The hard outer shells of these seeds are too difficult for birds to digest, so they have to remove the shell. Some examples of foods that require this chewing action include:
– Sunflower seeds – Popular at bird feeders, sunflowers have a hard outer hull that needs to be cracked with repeated bites and chewing motion.
– Nyjer seeds – Tiny black seeds with very hard outer coatings. Favorite of finches.
– Safflower seeds – Have a tough outer shell that birds chew through for the tasty insides.
– Millet – Small round millet seeds have an outer hull and require chewing and crushing to remove.
– Pine cones – Birds like crossbills use their unique crossed beaks to chew open pine cone scales to eat the seeds within.
– Insects – Some birds chew crunchy insects like beetles to break off digestible parts before swallowing.
The chewing sound thus comes from the physical action of crushing hard coverings around food. This motion requires exerting significant force with the beak muscles repeatedly in quick succession, which translates to a fast “chew chew chew” sound. It’s a necessary part of the feeding process for birds that eat seeds or hard-shelled insects.
Conclusion
In summary, the birds that most often make a sound like “chew chew chew” are seed-eating species like finches and sparrows. As they use their strong beaks to bite and crush hard outer coverings on seeds and nuts, their chewing motion creates a repetitive crunching noise. Other possibilities include chickadees, nuthatches, and some woodpeckers. Carefully observing the speed, pitch, pattern and location of the sound as well as any visual clues can help identify the exact species calling. While the chewing sound itself may seem unremarkable, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the feeding behaviors and adaptations of birds. So next time you hear an enthusiastic “chew chew chew” coming from your yard, take a closer look to appreciate the small bird tackling a big feeding challenge one seed at a time.