weirdest singers

Songs and calls of some New York State birds

Candidates for World's Otherwise Most Remarkable Singer

These are my personal favorites.

Three-wattled Bellbird (108kB). This record is on Doug Van Gausig's The Sights and Sounds of Costa Rica. "The combination of squeaky hinge and that BONG! It's an unmistakable sound you'll never forget!''

The Laughing Kookaburra Dacelo novaeguineae (489kB) epitomizes something about Australia. This record is on the page Common Birds of the Australian National Botanic Gardens, maintained by the ANBG. "The 'laugh' of the Kookaburra is one of the most enduring sounds of the Australian bush."
Another sample (323kB) from the Sound of the Week maintained by the Library of Natural Sounds at Cornell.
And check out Crikey the kookaburra at the San Diego Zoo on this wonderful video.

Montezuma Oropendola Psarocolius montezuma. One hundred eleven (!) records available on Xeno-canto. Also check Dan Mennil's recordings.
"The strange and remarkable song of the Montezuma Oropendola is an ascending series of overlapping bubbly syllables which crescendo to a high peak.'' (Daniel Mennill)

Albert's Lyrebird
Many excellent records on Xeno-Canto

Magnificent Lyrebird



Back to Main Bird Page.
Back to Tony's Home Page.

Tony Phillips
Math Dept SUNY Stony Brook
tony at math.sunysb.edu
November 26 2022