Birds make a variety of vocalizations, from soft coos and chirps to loud screeches and screams. The types of sounds they produce depend on the species, as well as factors like alarm, territory defense, courtship, feeding chicks, and more. So which birds are the screamers of the avian world?
Birds That Scream as an Alarm Call
Some birds scream loudly when they sense danger or want to warn others of a threat. This mobbing behavior serves to scare predators away and alert other birds in the area. Birds known for their alarm screams include:
- Blue Jays – Their harsh “thief” calls signal danger.
- Crows – They use loud, scraping calls to recruit other crows to mob predators.
- Hawks – High-pitched alarm screams alert others and signal distress.
- Seagulls – They emit piercing wails and screams when disturbed.
- Ravens – Deep, guttural alarm croaks advertise threats.
These noisy alarm calls quickly get the attention of other birds in the vicinity. The more birds mobbing a predator, the more likely it is to retreat.
Territorial Birds That Scream
Screaming also helps some bird species establish territories and warn away intruders. Some notoriously noisy territorial birds include:
- Red-Tailed Hawks – They scream to declare territories and attract mates.
- Bald Eagles – Loud yelps and screams communicate aggression toward rivals.
- Blue Jays – Harsh jeers and shrieks proclaim territory ownership.
- Falcons – High-pitched kree-kree-kree announces territories.
- Osprey – Whistling screams communicate nest defense.
In addition to warding off trespassers, these loud vocalizations help birds find mates and reinforce pair bonds. Screaming territorial calls are often a form of communication between established breeding pairs.
Courtship Screaming
Screaming can also be part of avian courtship rituals. Some examples of birds with screaming courtship displays include:
- Barn Owls – Males scream to attract females during courtship.
- Eagles – They perform dramatic, undulating screams as part of bonding rituals.
- Ravens – Mated pairs scream together when strengthening bonds.
- Grouse – Males emit screams during strutting displays for females.
- Pheasants – Loud screeches accompany courtship displays.
These screams help demonstrate a bird’s fitness. Females may judge male quality based on the timing, frequency, and intensity of screams. The ritualized screaming is believed to have evolved as a courtship strategy.
Screaming in Response to Disturbance
Some birds unleash aggressive, alarming screams when their nests or young are threatened. These distress screams communicate urgency and hostility. Birds known for defensive screaming include:
- Red-Shouldered Hawks – They shriek to defend nests from intruders.
- Great Horned Owls – Screeches and screams warn approaching animals.
- Bald Eagles – Loud wails and yelps defend nest sites.
- Swans – They hiss and scream during nest defense.
- Geese – Loud agonistic honking helps ward off predators.
These noisy warnings range from deep honks to piercing shrieks. This helps startle and intimidate the threat while sounding the alarm. Some birds may dive bomb or attack while screaming defensively.
Screaming to Attract Mates
Male birds also scream to advertise themselves and attract mates. Screaming can demonstrate good genes, strength, and vitality. Some screaming Lotharios of the bird world include:
- Peacocks – Their haunting screams attract peahens during courtship.
- Grouse – Males hoot and scream during mating displays called leks.
- Pheasants – Loud cackling and screams signal virility.
- Cranes – They scream with dramatic wing displays to impress females.
- Manakins – High-pitched screeches call females to mating arenas.
These noisy vocalizations help males stand out. Females often prefer louder, more vigorous screamers as mating partners. The male birds that scream the best tend to attract the most interest from females.
Birds That Scream to Find Flocks
Some highly social bird species scream to locate flocks when separated. This contact screaming helps reunite birds with their kind. Examples include:
- Parrots – Loud screaming calls communicate with their flockmates.
- Budgies – They shriek if isolated from the flock.
- Finches – Constant contact calls keep flocks together.
- Starlings – Varied screaming helps them form huge flocks.
- Crows – Loud caws reassemble flock members.
These flocking birds are highly vocal when alone, signaling their location. Being separated from the flock makes them more vulnerable to predators, so screaming helps reunite them.
Birds That Scream When Feeding Chicks
When nesting, parent birds scream to communicate with their chicks. Begging calls get the attention of parents to deliver food. Some examples include:
- Hawks – High-pitched fledgling screams beg for food.
- Owls – Nestlings hiss and scream for parents to feed them.
- Eagles – Eaglets emit piercing food screams.
- Ravens – Young ravens scream for food from parents.
- Parrots – Chicks scream incessantly when hungry.
The loud juvenile screaming stimulates the parents to forage and return with food. As chicks grow, the screaming tends to get louder and more insistent.
Birds That Mimic Screams
Some intelligent bird species can mimic the screams of other birds. These copycat birds include:
- Mockingbirds – They pick up screams from hawks, jays, and ravens.
- Lyrebirds – They perfectly mimic screams and other noises in their environment.
- Australian Magpies – Excellent mimics even reproduce human screams.
- Parrots – Can replicate screams and other vocalizations they hear.
- Crows – Have been observed mimicking screams.
Mimicking dangerous predator screams may help startle rivals or deter nest intruders. These clever vocalists can pick up new sounds throughout their lives.
The Science of Avian Screaming
Ornithologists continue studying why different bird species scream. Here are some scientific insights on screaming behavior:
- Alarm calls are innate in many species, with predictable scream patterns.
- Territorial screams are a product of evolution, benefiting mating and survival.
- Some aspects of screaming are learned, while others are genetically encoded.
- Juvenile food begging screams are triggered by visual or auditory cues from parents.
- Screaming frequency and volume often indicates quality, fitness, and motivation.
Researchers analyze spectrograms of screams to visualize intensity variation, frequency modulation, and other acoustic qualities. This further reveals the complex functions and meanings behind different avian screaming behaviors.
Screaming Birds by Habitat
Here is an overview of screaming birds categorized by their common habitats:
Forest Birds That Scream
- Blue Jays
- Crows
- Hawks
- Ravens
- Grouse
- Pheasants
- Parrots
Wetland Birds That Scream
- Cranes
- Geese
- Swans
- Rails
- Herons
- Storks
Coastal Birds That Scream
- Seagulls
- Terns
- Shearwaters
- Boobies
- Pelicans
- Oystercatchers
Grassland Birds That Scream
- Hawks
- Eagles
- Grouse
- Plovers
- Wrens
- Meadowlarks
Desert Birds That Scream
- Roadrunners
- Quail
- Nighthawks
- Ravens
- Vultures
- Finches
Birds in all major habitats produce screams, enabled by unique evolutionary adaptations. The way habitat shapes breeding, territory, predation, and social factors influences screaming behaviors.
Conclusion
Bird screams serve many important functions despite their abrasive nature. Loud avian screaming can signal alarm, territoriality, courtship, distress, grouping, feeding, mimicking, and other contexts. Familiarity with species-specific vocalizations provides clues to decode the intriguing language of bird screams, squawks, and shrieks in the wild.