7 of the strangest bird noises on Earth

Birdsong often evokes thoughts of gentle whistles and melodic chirps that soothe us and connect us with nature. But not all avian sounds are pleasant or familiar. Some species produce truly bizarre and surprising noises that challenge our expectations of what bird calls should be like.

One standout is the cowbird, whose song resembles water droplets rippling into a pond. This unusual, liquid-like sound comes from a highly specialised vocal mechanism, producing a bubbling effect that’s far from ordinary.

The lyrebird takes mimicry to an extreme. Famously showcased in footage from David Attenborough’s Life of Birds, it can imitate everything from chainsaws to kookaburras and car alarms. Once thought to be purely male behaviour during mating displays, females also produce complex vocalisations. 

In the Amazon, the white bellbird holds the record for the loudest bird call ever measured. At up to 125 decibels – as loud as a pneumatic drill – its harsh, industrial-sounding call is believed to help attract mates. 

South America’s horned screamers emit a strange honking noise described as similar to a rubber pump with hiccups, often performed in duets that carry over long distances. 

The prehistoric-looking shoebill stork adds to the oddball roster with rapid bill-clattering that resembles a machine gun. This behaviour serves as both a greeting and a nesting signal. 

In Australia’s rainforests, the southern cassowary communicates with deep infrasonic booms – so low they’re below the range of human hearing – creating rumbles more akin to predator sounds than bird calls. 

Lastly, the bearded bellbird, sometimes called the “anvil-bird,” emits a loud, repetitive call that can sound like a hammer striking metal. These startling and unconventional sounds highlight just how diverse and unexpected bird vocalisations can be.