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Introduction It is a truth universally acknowledged that we will all go through our own bird era. For some, it starts when we are young, a fascination with nature, a pet bird, a cartoon parrot from a beloved children’s movie. For others, and I dare say the majority, it happens later in our lives. One day we will astonish ourselves with how extremely excited we become at seeing the crimson flash of a red cardinal landing in a tree, get goosebumps at finally hearing the eerie tone of loon on a lake in the early morning, or have an otherworldly moment locking eyes with an owl resting in a tree, as if seeing magic itself. There are billions of birds in the world, more than 10,000 different species, and they are top of the list for animals that we know of by sound. Learning their sounds is akin to learning a language and at best we’re going to be able to ask for directions to the train station. But when you get it, and know which bird you’ve just heard you level up a little. For me, connecting the bird sounds to tangible, explainable noises like water dripping from a leaky faucet or a phone vibrating on a table, made them memorable and solid in my brain. Now, not every bird sound has an explainable counterpart. Songbirds, like warblers and wrens, are so melodic and musical that they sound exactly like that, like music. And we’ve all tried to explain a tune to friends with some bad humming or off-key singing to know how excruciating that can be. Birds have different calls and sounds for locations, time of day, alarms, when they are being flirtatious, and heaps of other situations. This book won’t explain each sound or call they make. It will try to make a connection to a sound you know to one of the sounds that a bird makes – but don’t let this description stop you. Get out there and find your own noises to remember and learn the birds you hear. Write your own language. Great Blue Heron If it sounds like a chainsaw, it’s a Great Blue Heron. If you are out by the water (they love a river, big fan of a marsh) and hear the deep sounds of a chainsaw revving up, it might be one of these majestic birds. It could also be someone cutting down a tree, be aware of your surroundings. If it is a great blue heron, you might want to think before complaining about the racket. These birds, found all across North America are almost 5 feet tall (ask them and they’ll claim it’s 6) with a wingspan that can be over 6 feet! Even with their incredible size, they weigh less than 6 pounds but their dagger-like beak is nothing to be trifled with. (I’m a lumberjack, and I’m okay) Northern Cardinal If it sounds like a siren going off, it’s a Northern Cardinal. Both the male and female cardinals sing. The siren that you can hear in the trees doesn’t feel very bird-like at all. There’s a mechanical element to the noise like a child’s police car toy. Find these loud birds in Eastern Canada, the US, and in Mexico. The male is in the bright red feathers and is easily spotted, especially in the winter months. The female however, knows how to use an accent colour correctly. (everything is an emergency, if you’re loud enough) Common Raven vs. American Crow Two large black birds of myth, lore, and legend often get mistaken for each other. Known for their cleverness, both show a deep understanding of their world around them and is one of the reasons we are so fascinated. The Common raven is seen across North America, Europe, Asia and parts of North Africa. They prefer a rural setting while the crow likes the city scene. The American crow is found in Canada and the US. They have cousins on the continent such as the Carrion crow or Jackdaw. Ravens have more of a bedhead with fluffy dishevelled neck feathers. Crows are much more sleek. When in flight, the raven tail is shaped like an arrowhead, pointing away from the direction they’re flying. Crow tails have a blunt bang look, with a sharp edge. American crows sound like the classic ‘caw caw’ noise that you say in the same way as how a cow says moo or an elephant makes that muffled trumpet noise that you mimic with your arm. Ravens sound like a crow, if the crow had a mouthful of gravel. It’s a much more guttural noise. Both make knocking, rattling, and blooping noises that would play nicely in the background of a sci-fi film. Then there’s the size difference. If you see a large black bird you might question if it’s a crow or a raven. In that case it’s probably a crow. If you see a large black bird and think ‘Dear god, what is that?!’ it’s most likely a raven. Barn Owl If it sounds like someone absolutely SCREAMING, it’s a Barn Owl. I don’t mean yelling. I don’t mean wailing. I don’t mean the sound you make falling off a chair. I mean a person standing three feet behind you and letting loose a primal scream with all their might and fury. These nocturnal birds make sure you hear this blood-curdling scream at night because they’re jerks. Beautiful, ethereal jerks. Find them on every continent except Antarctica. (yeah, that’s a hard pass) Common Eider If it sounds like someone enjoying the fireworks display, it’s a Common Eider. The common eider are sea ducks that know how to make a quality duvet. Humans have been collecting their down for centuries, harvested from their nests when they are done using them. Eider down is revered for its softness which matches perfectly with their quiet oohs and ahhs, like when someone with the last name Baker owns a bakery or Potter is a ceramicist. The males make this gentle cooing sound of delight and surprise. Find them along the Northern coastline of Canada and Western Europe. (oooOOOooooOoh…oooOOh…OOooh) Black-Capped Chickadee If it sounds like it’s saying cheese-burg-er, it’s a Black-Capped Chickadee. They have numerous calls and songs. Some are ‘hey sweetie’ or ‘Phoebe’ and their own name ‘chick-a-dee-dee’ where the more dees you hear, the higher the threat. Probably not from you, they are pretty cool with humans. There are seven different chickadee species. The black-capped can be found across Canada and the Northern US. In North America they are called chickadees, but referred to as tits in the rest of the world. (don’t forget my pickles) The 7 Kinds of Chickadees North America has 7 different chickadee species. The most widely seen and with the highest population is the Black-capped chickadee. From Alaska to Newfoundland they span from coast to coast so chances are if you see a bird you think is a chickadee, it’s likely a black-capped. Their 3-note call of ‘cheese-burg-er’ or ‘hey swee-tie’ is one of their adorable characteristics. The Carolina chickadee looks so similar that one of them really needs to go home and change. They live in the southeastern part of the US and have a 4-note call, because they want to be special. The Chestnut-backed chickadee is more on the ginger side and they are west coast birds that stretch from Alaska to California in a thin slice down the Pacific coast. The Boreal chickadee has a brown cap because black was so last year and they do not mind the snow and live in Canada and Alaska. Mountain chickadees don’t want to look like the Black-capped, so they have a white racing stripe on their heads. But they can’t get away from following the popular bird so they do sound remarkably similar. I’m sure they have words about that. They like the west coast and shocking no one, mountainous regions. Mexican chickadees live in, do I need to tell you? They like it warm and are the southernmost of the set. The northernmost is the Gray-headed chickadee. You are not going to run into this bird. They live in Alaska and are introverts to the extreme. Australian King-Parrot If it sounds like that person who laughs a little too long at your jokes, it’s an Australian King-Parrot. Also known to make adorable squeaky chirps, the king-parrot has a long hyena-like laugh with a single call lasting over twenty seconds. By the end of it, you just feel awkward standing there while they laugh at your, let’s face it, medium-level joke at best. Find them on the east coast of Australia. (....it’s not that funny, mate) Birds of Prey You know them, you love them, you’re somewhat scared of them. Birds of prey are known for their majestic size, hunting ability, hooked beaks, and large talons. You see them on some currency, and you definitely find them as a mascot of a sports team or university. We’re talking eagles, hawks, falcons, ospreys, vultures, condors, and more. The apex predator of the skies, these raptors are 100% carnivores and they don’t care who knows it. In North America the most well known is the bald eagle. The uber patriotic bird whose call you can hear now in your head as it echoes off the mountain top at sunrise. Except, well, that sound in every movie or beer commercial you’ve ever heard is mostly like a red tailed hawk. You can Google it, I’ll wait. But whether it sounds the way you think it should, or just looks cool as a tattoo, your favourite bird of prey is a living dinosaur and should be revered as such.
