The sound of birds in the garden is a joyous thing to wake up to. But did you know that many bird sounds have different meanings? Birds use their sounds to communicate with one another the way we use words, and many of their calls are easily distinguishable with a well-trained ear. If you’re interested in learning more about different bird sounds, we’ve put together a collection of the most common sounds and songs that birds make. With a bit of patience and practice, you’ll be able to differentiate between the most common bird sounds easily – and you might be able to help a bird in trouble because of it! Have a listen to these common bird sounds and discover what they mean to help understand just what’s going on in your back garden.

Birds are able to create different sounds under different circumstances. For example, when a predator is in the area, birds will release an alarm call to warn other birds of the intruder. Learning the difference between these bird sounds will give you an incredible insight into the world around you and how the species that inhabit it manage to survive. Here are five common bird sounds you can expect to hear in your garden, and what they mean.

1. Alarm Calls

If a threat is imminent, birds will release an alarm call to forewarn other birds. Interestingly, they are able to tailor these alarms depending on the situation. For example, if a raptor is circling overhead, songbirds are able to make a short, high-pitched sound that can’t carry far. This warns other birds without giving away the caller’s location. However, if a raptor is perched, smaller birds can make loud and deep noises to encourage other birds to help them attack the intruder.

2. Flight Calls

Flight calls are a very common bird sound, and are probably the calls that you will recognise easily. Birds that fly in flocks often call between each other during flight to help detect other species overhead and guarantee that they are safe. Flight calls are some of the most frequent types of bird calls, so they will be very helpful to you when identifying the species. The most recognised flight calls usually occur during spring and autumn nights, when many songbirds are migrating – these are the flight calls that many of us are familiar with.

3. Begging Calls

Young chicks use begging calls to communicate with their parents, usually when wanting to be fed. These regularly repeated calls are rather sad sounding and quiet, and include a mix of whines, chirps and tweets. Often, chicks will simultaneously flutter their wings when making a begging call to try and draw their parent’s attention. Although begging calls aren’t the best at helping identify birds, they will certainly warn you where nests are so you can be extra careful around these areas.

4. Contact Calls

Contact calls are essentially the ground equivalent of flight calls. Species that flock use contact calls to keep in touch with one another, particularly when foraging for food. Plus, contact calls can be used to alert other birds in the flock to a good food source. Usually, these calls will be short and quiet so as not to alert any unwanted attention outside of the flock. However, if birds get separated, they will make more urgent ‘separation’ contact calls at a much louder volume.

5. Bird Song

Naturally, one of the most recognisable bird sounds is their beautiful song. Every species of bird has it’s own unique song, but they usually mean the same thing. Birds use singing to protect their territory from other birds and to attract a mate. Usually, bird song is most prevalent in the morning, since this is when their voice is able to carry the farthest. Often, the dawn chorus is also much more intense and livelier than later in the day too.

There are plenty of bird songs to listen out for but, according to the RSPB’s Big Birdwatch, the most common garden bird is the house sparrow. Here’s the house sparrow’s intriguing song.

Common Garden Bird Songs

Of course, house sparrows are one of the most spotted birds in UK gardens however, there are many more beautiful birds that you can listen out for. With some well-placed bird feeders, you can attract a range of birds that will alert you to their presence with their song. From the cheery sound of a robin to the melodious song of a blackbird, there are so many bird songs that you may hear in your garden. Here are some common garden birds and their songs so you can see which bird are paying you a visit.

1. Blackbird

The blackbird’s song is a shrill, descending cry that many people say sounds friendly and conversational. Blackbirds sing frequently throughout the spring and summer and, as common garden visitors, they have one of the best recognised bird songs. A male blackbird’s call sounds like a clear whistle and lasts no longer than half a second. A female blackbird’s call is much more quick and curt.

2. Robin

Robin’s are a popular garden bird all year round, though naturally we look forward to seeing them most in winter. Their song has been described several times as a cheery whistle and, although we associate robin’s with winter, their song is actually a quintessential sound of British spring time. The robin’s joyous whistle is usually composed of a steady rhythm and rising syllables and is most commonly heard at dawn.

3. Goldfinch

Although the goldfinch is one of the smallest finches that inhabit our shores, their song is one of the most beautiful – and popular! Delivered at a frenetic pace, a goldfinches song is a charming twittering sound with a liquid fluidity. Goldfinches can delivery their songs at diverse paces, meaning they may sound slightly different each time, but the delightful twittering of a goldfinch is unmistakeable.

4. Wren

The wren’s song is a charming mix of warbles and churrs that can be heard all year round. Often, the intensity and consistency of the song increases during breeding season, which begins in April. During this time, the increased song usually comes from females responding to the call of males. Sometimes, you may hear the wren’s song in response to predators too.

5. Nightingale

The nightingale truly lives up to its name since it tends to sing throughout the night. A nightingale’s song sounds like a soaring whistle, and its incredible succession of different notes makes it one of the beautiful bird songs ever. Although nightingales primarily sing at night, they may sing during the day too. However, a nightingales song is easily overpowered during the day, so you’re more likely to catch it after sunset.