Bird call classifiers

Decision table for identifying bird calls

Bird	Description	Audio
one note
Northern barred owl	one note slow low (0-1 KHz) . We heard this in New England after sunset, and swore it sounded like monkeys. Merlin's SoundID told it was a barred owl, and when I looked up 'barred owl monkey' in the internet, I found that monkey call is a common description, for instance here.	♫

Eurasian penduline-tit ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Call a sharp clear high pitched whistle "pju-eee-uu", with the middle part accented and with a raised pitch Or just an all descending whistle "pjuuuuuuu". [Link]	♫
one note
rasp
Spotted nutcracker ■■	rasp one note slow low-high (1-10 KHz) . - alarm call. Like crow or its cousin the Eurasian jay (Eichelhaeher). Call: Warning call a characteristic dry and rasping "karrr karrr karr" in even pitch. [Link]	♫
European serin ■■	one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . - flight call. Call: Ringing trill also used as contact call, with slightly falling pitch "trrilrlitlitlit". Alarm call a short, redpoll-like "weee-eeet", with an accented high-pitched middle part. [Link]	♫
Tree pipit ■■	one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . Sounds like 1-note to me. Have also heard two high notes, then dann hlhlhl Call: “psiet“ etwas nach unten gezogen. Auch „zieh“ [Link] Flight call a short buzzing "tzzzeet". Given at even pitch, and in a fuller tone than Red-Throated Pipit. [Link]	♫

Meadow pipit ■■	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: fast tonlos „ist, ist.“ [Link] Contact call a short "eest". Similar to Rock Pipit but shorter,cleaner and most often in quick series. Warning call a sharp, high pitched "tzeet". Also a rattling "trrrrt". [Link]	♫
one note
whoop, sputter/pebble-clatter
Black redstart ■■	whoop, sputter/pebble-clatter one note slow medium (4-5 KHz) . - alarm call. XC560014 matches exactly what BirdID describes: 'Alarm call is a chat-like alternation between short, high-pitched "wit" sounds, and series of hard and dry "teck".' The high-pitched call I heard recently was between 5 and 6 KHz, which could help to distinguish between other birds with a deeper voice. The whooping call is sometimes listed as an alarm call. Call: „hüid-tze“ das tze deutlich tiefer. [Link] Alarm call is a chat-like alternation between short, high-pitched "wit" sounds, and series of hard and dry "teck". [Link]	♫
whoop
Common redstart ■■	whoop one note slow medium (2-5 KHz) . - contact call. At least in French, this is called the huit call. Not very consistent in tone from one note to another. Some stick to 3-4 or 3-4.5 KHz, others 2.5-5.5. Call: „Füid-tack“ das füid ähnlich dem des Fitislaubsängers, das tack schnalzend. (wie wenn man die Zunge schnell vom Gaumen abzieht) [Link] Alarm call a slightly drawn, Willow Warbler-like "huit" with a rising pitch, followed by a short, soft "tuc". [Link]	♫
sputter/pebble-clatter
Lesser whitethroat ■■	sputter/pebble-clatter one note slow low-high (2-7 KHz) . BirdID says: Warning call a hard "check" similar to Blackcap but slightly softer Call: „tze“ oder „tett“ [Link] Warning call a hard "check" similar to Blackcap but slightly softer. [Link]	♫
Black cap warbler ■■	sputter/pebble-clatter one note slow high (3-9 KHz) . General: Sputtery/stoney, but may have other calls too. Call: The Blackcap may generate a perplexing variety of territorial calls, though the typical contact call is a hard, tongue-clicking "teck teck" which has a scolding quality to it. It's not dissimilar to the 'pebble-clacking' call of the Stonechat. [Suffex Wildlife Trust] Call: „täck“ oft wiederholt [Link] Alarm call a hard "check", similar to Lesser White-throat. Sometimes with an additional hoarse and nasal "cherrrr". [Link]	♫

Whinchat ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: „teck, teck“ (ähnlich wie wenn man zwei Steine zusammen schlägt) [Link] Contact call resembles many of it relatives. A short, soft "peeu", followed by a hard "check" (like hitting two rocks together). [Link]	♫
one note
Common kingfisher ■■	one note slow high (5-7 KHz) . Call: Wikipedia says 'The common kingfisher has no song. The flight call is a short, sharp whistle chee repeated two or three times. Anxious birds emit a harsh, shrit-it-it and nestlings call for food with a churring noise.' The NABU app only has calls, which seems to confirm this. Therefore I'm classifying all recordings as calls, even though some say Song at Xeno-Canto. [Link] Most heard is the thin and penetrating contact call: A short "tzee", or disyllabic "tzee-tzu", with a ringing metallic quality. In excitement it is often alternated with ringing trills "tzeerrrrrrrrrr". [Link]	♫
weird
Eurasian coot ■■	weird one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . Call: Most diagnostic call a very short, sharp and explosive "tsk". Sometimes a longer, less sharp but nasal "caw", with varying harshness. [Link]	♫
quack
Common moorhen ■■	quack one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . Call: Rich repertoire of loud calls and softer sounds. Other calls; a sharp, three or four-syllable "kekeke", and a soft "wep" sometimes drawn-out in a more mewing version. [Link]	♫
swoop, rasp
European greenfinch ■■	swoop, rasp one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . - alarm call. Raspy descending note. XenoCanto submitter of Bavaria called this an alarm call, but it's also called a 'wheeze' and it's part of the song as well. Call: Contact call a fairly resonant "chep-chep", resembling Redpoll, but less nasal and with a fuller tone. Also a sharp, drawn, ascending "kooeee", (perhaps not obviously recognized as a finch). [Link]	♫
Brambling ■■	one note slow medium (2-6 KHz) . call cheep plus two ascending greenfinch (Grünfink) squawks Call: Contact calls include a short, nasal, ascending "keeaa", a short high-pitched, piercing "tzeet" and a linnet-like "chepp". May be mistaken for Greenfinch, but note softer timbre and stable pitch throughout the call. [Link]	♫

Common linnet ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Flight-call a quick and "bouncing" "gig-gig" or "tchett-tchett". Most often disyllabic utterances, while Twite seems to vary more the number of syllables. Tone harder and more bouncing. Most easily recognized by the frequently interwoven, disyllabic contact calls. [Link]	♫
one note
Song thrush ■■	one note slow high (7-10 KHz) . - contact call. One or two high chirps followed by long pause of 1-2 seconds Call: Rufe :“zipp“, oft beim abfliegen. [Link] Most heard (but easily overlooked) contact call is a dry and very short "zip", sometimes given as a two syllable call "zip-ip". [Link]	♫
non-musical
rattle
Mistle thrush ■■	rattle non-musical fast low-high (2-9 KHz) . General: I mistook this one for a woodpecker the first time I heard it, partly because BirdNet also did! Rattle generated in vocal tract, not with the beak! Call: Rufe:schnarrend „kerr“, daneben „tück-tück-tück“ [Link] Other calls; a dry rattle, likened to the sound of a piece of wood drawn over a coarse comb, and a Fieldfare-like "chuck". [Link]	♫

Redwing ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Contact call a thin, drawn and sharp "sreee". Often heard at night during migration. Alarm call harder, dryer and more raucous than other thrushes. [Link]	♫
Fieldfare ■■	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Schackernd, ähnlich obiger Art [Misteldrossel], aber weicher. Am Brutplatz raue krächzende Rufe. [Link] Scolding call a hard "check", often given in decelerating series. Contact call in migration a soft, pleasant but, buzzy "weet". Typically bursts into continuos, squeaky chattering at takeoff. [Link]	♫
simple rhythmic
weird
Jackdaw ■■	weird simple rhythmic fast low (1-3 KHz) . Strange tone, Almost barking or a gull cry. Call: Nabu: Ein hartes „kjack“ oder „schack“ sowie ein raues „tschräh“ hört man am häufigsten von der Dohle. Sie ist ein begabtes Stimmwunder und hat eine Vielzahl von Lauten und Imitationen auf Lager. [Link] meist angenehm klingende, kurze Rufe: "kja", oft mehrfach wiederholt, härteres "kjack!" oder gezogenes "kjaar". [Link]	♫
Bearded reedling ■■	simple rhythmic fast high (3-7 KHz) . - song. Chirping Call: Usually identified by contact call; a ringing, explosive "tschin" with a characteristic "dirty" timbre. Also a hard and very short "pit", often mixed with the previous. [Link]	♫

Common whitethroat ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN Call: heiser, etwas nasal „wäd“ warnt m.“tschähr“. [Link] Warning call a harsh, drawn "weeet", usually with accented ending, sometimes rising abruptly in pitch. [Link]	♫
Water pipit ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: „fist“, etwas rauer als bei obiger Art [Wiesenpieper]. [Link] Contact call sharper and more drawn. [Link]	♫
one note
Hawfinch ■■	one note fast high (4-8 KHz) . Found no references to song Call: Most typical call a sharp and explosive "tzek", with abrupt, emphasized, cut-off ending. Quite similar to Robin, but harder, with each syllable marginally longer with a slightly wheezing timbre. Repetitions are slower and more singular than Robin. Diagnostic when interspersed with high frequency notes. [Link]	♫

Wood lark ■■	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
simple rhythmic
Alpine chough ■■	simple rhythmic slow low-high (2-7 KHz) . - flight call. Chirping, rather musical	♫
non-musical
Great egret ■■	non-musical slow low (1-3 KHz) . Partly an awkward quack: uck uck. Rattles. Deep-toned urrr. Higher-toned trill. Call: In colonies various harsh calls like a dry, and mechanical "kerrrrrrr", and a very nasal "geet" or "ga-geet ga-geet" are heard. [Link]	♫
Little bittern ■■	non-musical slow low (1-3 KHz) . Almost a bark, low-pitched, little treble. Call: Flight-call a sharp "ki-ke-ke" or a nasal "ke". [Link]
Great bittern ■■	non-musical slow low (1-3 KHz) . A little buzz/beep that sounds more like an appliance or app. Call: Flight call a deep croaking "graat". [Link]

Goldcrest ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN Call: 'sisisi' [Link] Contact call a very high pitched "zit zit zit", only similar to Firecrest and treecreepers. Treecreepers usually calls with longer "zzzziiiiit" repeated at regular intervals, while Goldcrest calls in phrases with two to four calls in series in an uneven rhythm. Firecrest contact calls lower pitched than Goldcrest, and in a softer tone (but quite similar). [Link]	♫
Common firecrest ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: „sisisi“ [Link] Call: a thin "tsi tsi tsi" similar to Goldcrest, but not so sharp. [Link]	♫
one note
swoop
Marsh tit ■■	swoop one note slow high (6-9 KHz) . Falling note, relatively long, sometimes repeated - like the pee below without the choo? Call: Most typical call an explosive, sneeze-like "pee-choo", starting high-pitched and ending on a lower note. Error loading Flash for sound! See sound file . [Link]	♫

Yellowhammer ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: „zick“ „zeck“ [Link] Distinct contact call: A short and brittle "zeet", rich in harmonics. [Link]	♫
Eurasian skylark ■■	- flight call. This quickly-written call archetype may need review/enhancement. Call: Most typical flight call a short trilling "chirrup", with the end note noticeably lower pitched than the start. Also several other more cryptic calls. [Link]	♫
stereotype melodic
European goldfinch ■■	stereotype melodic fast low-high (2-8 KHz) . Wild melody (remember these birds are also kept as songbirds in cages. the German name Stieglitz imitates its call (sti-ge-lit) - though I don't hear that! [Link] Call: Other calls: A harsh budgerigar or house martin-like "trrrtt-trrrrt". [Link]	♫

Red crossbill ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN Call: Contact call similar to Parroy Crossbill's "tupp", but is on average higher and less powerful, with a "cut-off" ending. In sum: Parrot Crossbill; hard attack, soft ending, Crossbill: softer attack, cut-off ending. Beware regional variations and overlap in pitch of calls with Parrot. [Link]	♫
simple rhythmic
Eurasian golden oriole ■■	simple rhythmic slow medium (1-5 KHz) . 3 somewhat harsh ascending notes, more melodic than a Eurasian jay call Call: Flötenrufen Oft wird der Gesang allerdings vom Star treffend ähnlich nachgeahmt. [Link] Contact call surprisingly different: A forced, drawn "weeackt", slightly resembling Jay, but less harsh, and much more nasal. Other sounds include a Wryneck-like warning call. [Link]	♫
one note
whoop
Willow warbler ■■	whoop one note slow medium (2-4 KHz) . - contact call. Whoop very similar to chiffchaff, etc. but starts at an even level, then ascends. Call: ähnlich oben, aber mehr zweisilbig [Link] Contact/alarm call a soft, plaintive ascending "hoo-eet". Similar to Chiff-chaff, but first part more drawn, giving it a disyllabic feel. [Link]	♫

Garden warbler ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN Call: Alarm call a hard "check", and a hoarse "tcherr". [Link]	♫
Tawny owl ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN Call: typically followed by a slightly ascending, vibrating "hohohohohoho" and quickly another descending "hooooooo". Complete phrase: "hoooooo, hohohohohoho-hoooooo". May omit parts. [Link]	♫
Great crested grebe ■■	- begging call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN	♫
simple rhythmic
Eurasian teal ■■	simple rhythmic slow low (1-3 KHz) . Blup blup, fast wie vom Computer generiert, fur mich nohe Noten (obwohl Sonogram nur 2.5 KHz zeigt)	♫
Eurasian wigeon ■■	simple rhythmic slow low (1-3 KHz) . Pfeifen, fast wie ein Rotmilan oder Mäusebussard. Ton steigt und fällt!	♫
one note
weird
Water rail ■■	weird one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . Everyone says they sound like pigs! Call: Another diagnostic call is heard from excited birds; a longer pig-like shrilling squeal, with waning repetitions. A bit like someone squeezing a rubber toy. Also short and sharp calls "kvii". [Link]	♫

Northern lapwing ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Ruf ist entweder mhhhh oder Bogen-artiges hoch und runter. [Link] Territorial call: Dry, introductory phrases followed by drawn-out mewing sounds; "wyrrr-peeeoo-weeep". Alarm call "pee-wit". [Link]	♫
simple rhythmic
Common sandpiper ■■	simple rhythmic slow medium (1-5 KHz) . High-pitched, at least in Birdweather detection Call: Very vocal with characteristic repertoire of very high-pitched calls. Often heard is a disyllabic call, drawn out and slightly rising in pitch in the second part. This is often repeated in a series of rising tones in a cyclic manner, with approx 5 tones in each cycle. [Link]	♫
one note
whoop
Curlew sandpiper ■■	whoop one note fast medium (4-6 KHz) . At XenoCanto I heard 5 rising notes within a second. Call: Flight call a soft, ringing and rolling "krrrrrt, with variations. Lacks the hoarse, nasal quality of similar call by Dunlin. [Link]
simple rhythmic
Eurasian curlew ■■	simple rhythmic slow low (1-3 KHz) . - flight call. Das Männchen steigt mit einzelnen, klangvollen Rufen auf, die vor der Landung in einen weithin hörbaren Triller übergehen. [Link]	♫

Common reed bunting ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Contact call a sharp, descending and drawn "tseeeoo". A bit similar to Yellow Wagtail, but not as sharp and explosive. In migration a thick, and unmusical "chong" is often heard. [Link]	♫
one note
Common swift ■■	one note fast high (4-7 KHz) . Heard from high in the air Call: Often continued with a dry lower pitched "trrrrrr" before calling again. Very vocal at breeding area, and often a flock will call together. Despite being quite similar to Pallid Swift, the call is probably the best field character to separate the two. Pallid puts the stress on the ending of the call, followed by a quick fall in pitch (dynamics like moaning with a quick release). Plain Swift calls similar to Common Swift, but differs in slightly fluctuating pitch during the call, and a loss of resonance towards the ending (thinner sounding). [Link]	♫

Eurasian siskin ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Most often heard is the sharp and disyllabic contact call: "doo-lee", with both notes descending. Sometimes given a in monosyllabic manner "dlyy". [Link]	♫
Great cormorant ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Coarse, vibrating calls "hahahahaharo". [Link]	♫
simple rhythmic
Long-tailed tit ■■	simple rhythmic slow high (7-9 KHz) . - contact call. Die fast ständig geäusserten, hohen Rufe verraten die kleinen, rastlosen Turner im Gezweig meist schon, bevor sie zu sehen sind. [Link] Call: Call: quite short, chirping, twittering "tzzirrret tzirrrret". Often starting at high pitch and rapidly falling, or just flat. Also a thin, slightly falling "zi zi ziii". [Link]	♫
two notes
Coal tit ■■	two notes slow high (3-9 KHz) . Typical coal tit calls do a slide between two notes high-low alarm call but simple song-like calls too Call: Call: short soft and clear "piu", first rapidly rising and then falling in pitch. [Link]	♫
stereotype melodic
European crested tit ■■	stereotype melodic slow medium (1-5 KHz) . 5 oder mehr schnelle, aufsteigende Noten. Erinnert mich an die Blaumeise. Call: Call a characteristic vibrating rolling trill "Trrrrurrrurrrit", with last syllable emphasized and ending with ascending pitch. Often preceded by a couple of introductory "tzi tzi". [Link]	♫
one note
Short-toed treecreeper ■■	one note slow high (5-7 KHz) . General: See the sonogram how the song may descend rapidly from 7Khz to and then climb from 5 to 5.75 KHz, a kind of reversed checkmark. However I find it hard to distinguish from a single note. I'm not a bird ;-( Call: calls with a loud (Wikipedia says shrill) “tyt tyt” [Link] Call: scharf „tiit, sri“ [Link] Contact call very similar to C. familiaris. A thin "sreee" often repeated in an even rhythm, perhaps with slighly shorter pauses. Flight call a short and sharp "wit" used freely when moving about. Timbre recalls wet rubber-boots on vinyl flooring. Note that "mixed singers" of C. familiaris are not uncommon in areas where both species of treecreepers occur. [Link]	♫
Eurasian treecreeper ■■	one note slow high (7-9 KHz) . General: Wikipedia says: The contact call is a very quiet, thin and high-pitched sit, but the most distinctive call is a penetrating tsree, with a vibrato quality, sometimes repeated as a series of notes. Fairly regularly spaced single tseep at 7-9KHz. Call: Contact call a drawn, high-pitched "tzreeee". Similar to Goldcrest in timbre, but of longer duration with a vibrating and slightly rolling tone. Generally repeated in evenly paced, slow series (unlike Goldcrest). [Link] Call: weniger scharf, „srih,“ weniger eindringlich als oben [Link] Contact call a drawn, high-pitched "tzreeee". Similar to Goldcrest in timbre, but of longer duration with a vibrating and slightly rolling tone. Generally repeated in evenly paced, slow series (unlike Goldcrest). Each phrase starts with a few contact call-like notes followed by a Willow Warbler-like descending part, which then jumps to a few descending high notes to form a marked conclusion. Note that "mixed singers" are not uncommon in areas where both species of treecreepers occur. [Link]	♫
sputter/pebble-clatter
Eurasian wren ■■	sputter/pebble-clatter one note slow high (3-8 KHz) . Sputtery/drippy/trilly repeated notes at 3-8 KHz. June 2022 heard check calls that were distinctly irregularly in their rhythm. Call: „zerr“ (z-und rr-gleichzeitig) auch durchdringendes „tzr“(Gezetter) [Link] Warning call a short hard "teck", like banging two rocks together. Often repeated in series when excited to form machine-gun-like "firing". [Link]	♫
Great spotted woodpecker ■■	one note slow low-high (1-8 KHz) . General: A chirping (that I couldn't associate in my mind with a woodpecker), repeated at somewhat irregular intervals of about a second 2023: klang in bird-song.ch Quiz wie eine lauter Haussperling Call: Nabu: Der häufigste Ruf ist ein kurzes und spitzes „kix“. Ist ein Buntspecht aufgebracht, etwa durch einen Artgenossen, kann man ein schnelles Schnarren hören. [Link] Call: Typically it lasts 0.5 seconds, sometimes slightly longer. Contact call frequently hear throughout the year. A short hiccup "kek", sometimes in series. When excited this may escalate into a trill. [Link]	♫
simple rhythmic
Middle spotted woodpecker ■■	simple rhythmic slow medium (0-4 KHz) . Stattdessen ist in der Brutzeit das klagende Quäken zu hören, womit der Mittelspecht sein Revier markiert. [Link] Call: Contact and alarm call consists of a series of short "kitt" sounds, where the first syllable is clearer and distinctly in a higher pitch than the rest of the phrase. Seldom drums. [Link]	♫
one note
Black woodpecker ■■	one note slow low-high (1-8 KHz) . General: A loud unearthly call on a single unwavering note. Call: Drumming: Error loading Flash for sound! See sound file Flight call a characteristic resonant trill "krrreekrrreekrrreekrrree". A characteristic short, sharp and plaintive "keeaaa" with descending pitch often uttered when excited. A few slower drawn-out introductory calls before the phrase gets going is diagnostic. [Link]	♫
simple rhythmic
Lesser spotted woodpecker ■■	simple rhythmic fast high (3-9 KHz) . Vogelwarte wie oben..hohe Rufreihen Call: Most common call a series of merlin-like "ke-ke-ke-ke-ke-ke" given at fairly stable pitch, and less hoarse than Merlin. Differs from Wryneck in lacking marked rise and fall in pitch, and being less plaintive. [Link]	♫

Little grebe ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN Call: Call; sometimes a single quite clear high pitched "dydlylyyt". More often combined into longer phrases with harsher quality, oscillating like laughter and travelling up and down in pitch in agitated motion. Reminiscent of female Cuckoo. [Link]	♫
simple rhythmic
Grey-headed woodpecker ■■	simple rhythmic slow high (3-9 KHz) . In the FOK course, Christina said he sounds like he's running out of gas, which is a great description.	♫
one note
swoop
Eurasian green woodpecker ■■	swoop one note slow high (3-9 KHz) . Hysterical laughter. 7-8 loud urgent slightly falling notes, reminding me of George of the Jungle's dooky dooky bird for some reason. Call: Short "kek" calls when excited and in flight. Drumming of 1.5 seconds duration with decelerating tempo, but not often heard. Another call is similar to Black Woodpecker; a series of resonant "klit-klit-klit-klit-klit-klit", but is less clear, has a more determined start and has less obvious rising pitch at the end of each syllable. [Link]	♫
simple rhythmic
Eurasian three-toed woodpecker ■■	simple rhythmic slow low (1-3 KHz) . - drumming. Behavior: Seine unauffälligen Rufe sind nicht laut und tönen ähnlich wie jene des Buntspechts. [Portrait] Call: Contact call similar to Great Spotted, but deeper and softer. Not very vocal. [Link]	♫
one note
rasp
Eurasian jay ■■	rasp one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . Typically harsh jay call. I would say a contact call usually means 'Here I am', answered by 'Good, here I am.' Listening to two jays in the Swiss mountains of Toggenburg, it sounded like 'HEY IDIOT, HERE I AM...WHERE THE HECK ARE YOU?' 'WHAT? YOU HAVEN'T FIGURED IT OUT? OF COURSE I'M OVER HERE. PEABRAIN.' On the other hand, anthropomorphism is always dangerous, usually completely wrong approach. Call: Most heard call a short, drawn and very hoarse, raspy sound, often given in quick successions. Also a Buzzard-like, mewing "peeeaaa" (more drawn and less full tone than Siberian Jay). [Link]	♫
simple rhythmic
swoop
Common buzzard ■■	swoop simple rhythmic slow medium (1-5 KHz) . Klingt ähnlich wie Rotmilan aber kürzer Call: Most typical call a wailing, mewing "peeoooo". Quite similar to Rough-legged Buzzard, but the pitch falls more rapidly and is then sustained for the last part of the call. [Link]	♫
Eurasian blue tit ■■	simple rhythmic slow high (3-9 KHz) . Low-high-high, with lightly raspy start, rather high. Call: Scolding alarm call: "tee-tee-tee-chirruwitt" similar to Great Tit. [Link]	♫
one note
Common blackbird ■■	one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . - alarm call. Sharp-edged call, mostly one note. Call: Je nach Situation, „duck duck duck“, „tix-tix-tix“ in rascher Folge, „srieh“ (auch als Flugwarnruf) [Link] Large repertoire of calls. Most characteristic is a hysterical rattle often given when flushed. Sometimes preceded by a hard "tok tok", which then accelerates into a panicky arpeggio-like crescendo. Contact call a thin redwing-like "srrreee". Alarm calls: a sharp "tink, tink" or a very high pitch falling whistle. [Link]	♫
swoop
House sparrow ■■	swoop one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . Call: Most calls very similar to Tree Sparrow, but lacks said species' distinct high pitched call (chew-itt), and alarm call is less dry and raucous. [Link]	♫
non-musical
cawing
Carrion crow ■■	cawing non-musical slow low (1-3 KHz) . Graak!	♫
Common raven ■■	cawing non-musical slow low (1-3 KHz) . Graak!	♫
Red-billed chough ■■	cawing non-musical slow low (1-3 KHz) . Higher-pitched falling graak. Call: Ebird: Gives a variety of calls, including a loud “chaw!”, as well as higher-pitched gull-like mewing calls. [Link] Call: A rapidly descending "keeaaaw", sometimes resembling a coarse jackdaw. At other times a more mewing sound, with similar coarseness, or a sharper, descending "kieew". [Link]	♫

Bohemian waxwing ❑❑	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Contact call weak, but distinct and typically alert one to the presence of a flock. A thin, high pitched, ringing "tzrrrrrrr". [Link]	♫
one note
quack
Common snipe ■■	quack one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . - flight call. Call: Almost always give diagnostic hoarse and nasal "kaaat" call when flushed. Another territorial call is a rhythmic, mechanical and sharp "tika-tika-tka", or "ika-ka-ka". [Link]	♫
non-musical
cawing
Hooded crow ■■	cawing non-musical slow medium (2-4 KHz) . Cawing is aggressive and more raucous than in Rook, with more rolling r's. [! [Link] Call: Many of these calls are surprisingly resonant and pleasant sounding, and sometimes resembles Raven. Probably impossible to tell from Carrion Crow with certainty by sound alone. [Link]	♫

Rook ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
one note
whoop
Common starling ■■	whoop one note slow medium (1-6 KHz) . I hear this occasionally and really enjoy it - a long rising 'whoop', as I call it', starting low at 1 1/2 KHz and rising to 6 1/2 KHz! Call: Other calls; a harsh "chaee" and a short sharp "tink". [Link]	♫

Stock dove ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Nur noch sehr selten zu hören! [Link]	♫
simple rhythmic
swoop
Black kite ■■	swoop simple rhythmic slow medium (1-5 KHz) . - flight call. Drei fallende Noten	♫
Red kite ■■	swoop simple rhythmic slow medium (1-5 KHz) . - flight call. Etwa vier fallende Noten Call: Differs from Black Kite in being a clear whistle all the way through the call, without "shivering". Higher pitched than Buzzard, and with less pause between calls. [Link]	♫
one note
rasp
Eurasian magpie ■■	rasp one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . Call: Most notable sound a harsh, chattering "chechechecheche" used as warning call, or when mobbing predators. [Link]	♫
two notes
Great tit ■■	two notes fast low-high (1-7 KHz) . Chuck-a-chuck-a-chuck, sometimes preceded by higher 'wheat!' Call: Generally more full-bodied and resonant calls than blue tit, and not so high-pitched. Characteristic Chaffinch-like "tink tink tink" often uttered by male. [Link]	♫
one note
European nuthatch twit ■■	one note fast low (2-3 KHz) . A long fast sequence of notes - is it the 'twit' call mentioned above? Call: Other: It gives loud calls when excited, an abrupt ‘twit”, only one, or in slow series, but often in phrases of 3-4 notes in rapid succession. But in great excitement, it utters phrases of about ten notes per second! We can also hear some shrill “sirrrr”, becoming harsher in alarm call. The contact call is a thin “tsit” uttered before to take off. [Link] The Eurasian nuthatch calls frequently, usually with a loud, sharp dwip normally repeated twice, sometimes more often if excited. It has a shrill sirrrr or tsi-si-si alarm call, and a thin tsit pre-flight call. [Link] Other: Very varied voice. Ranging from very high pitched whistles and melodic resonant calls, to chattering and nasal mocking sounds. Characteristic warning call a hard "check" or "chwit", often in rapid series, like a pebble bouncing on hollow ice. [Link] Ranging from very high pitched whistles and melodic resonant calls, to chattering and nasal mocking sounds. Characteristic warning call a hard "check" or "chwit", often in rapid series, like a pebble bouncing on hollow ice. [Link]	♫
sputter/pebble-clatter
European robin ■■	sputter/pebble-clatter one note slow high (4-9 KHz) . Personal: A single note usually repeated twice. Somewhat sputtery. BirdID refers to 'a thin, electric "tick". In one source said to be used as alarm call. Call: A variety of calls is also made at any time of year, including a ticking note indicating anxiety or mild alarm. [Link] Call: Alarm call a thin, electric "tick", often in series with decelerating tempo. [Link]	♫
whoop
Common chaffinch ■■	whoop one note slow medium (3-5 KHz) . - rain call. General: Repeated ascending note, faster than the long starling whoops, about 2/seconds - compare with the black redstart. There are many different calls, the Marler book describes the 'chink' call as functioning as a mobbing and separation call. At XenoCanto I find calls described as "ping", "pik" (same thing?), "pchew", "duit", "huit", "ti-huit". Call: Der sogenannte Regenruf der Männchen, „schrrüt“, der selbst in benachbarten Ortsteilen deutlich variieren kann, erklingt nur während der Brutzeit. Als Regenruf wird er bezeichnet, weil er kurz vor oder sogar während des Regens zu hören ist, wenn die anderen Vögel verstummen. [DasHaus]	♫
Eurasian bullfinch ■■	one note slow low (2-3 KHz) . - contact call. laconic 1 note call w slight dip? Song NABU 1 parakeet like puppy-dog whining, NABU 2 whistles, 2-syllable peek-a-boo, ... Call: Contact call a soft, full-bodied, descending, pure whistle; "peeuu". [Link]	♫
Common chiffchaff ■■	whoop one note slow medium (2-4 KHz) . Repeated rising note, not too loud Call: Rufe :einsilbiges „hüid“, hinaufgezogen, wandelbar. [Link] Contact/alarm call a soft, plaintive ascending "hooeet". Similar to W.Warbler, but shorter with a monosyllabic feel. [Link]	♫
White wagtail ■■	one note slow high (3-7 KHz) . bird-song.ch: zweisilbig «zilipp» oder einsilbig «zipp» Call: Contact calls short and sharp. Usually with disyllabic, "bouncing" quality, and with each syllable only accented, not clearly separated from the other (see Grey Wagtail). [Link]	♫
swoop
Western yellow wagtail ■■	swoop one note slow high (3-9 KHz) . General: Single note repeated Song: sperling ähnliches lh lh lh. Dachte die wären melodisch?? Nein. BL chirpy ml ml [Link] Call: Contact call characteristic and widely used; a sharp, drawn out "pseeeoo" with an accented ending falling in pitch. A variable phrase with two or three notes resembling the contact call in timbre. [Link]	♫

Italian sparrow ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
one note
Eurasian tree sparrow ■■	one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . Rough sounding voice Call: Distinct, high-pitched and explosive contact-call; "che-witt" typically given in flight. Second syllable rising rapidly in pitch. [Link]	♫
Grey wagtail ■■	one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . Birdweather hat ein-Noter aufgenommen. Call: Contact call short, metallic and with a clipped ending. Often disyllabic, "tzeet-tzeet", with each syllable more separated than in White Wagtail, and timbre more "dirty". Often starts with the contact call, followed by short melodic phrases. [Link]	♫
swoop
Dunnock ■■	swoop one note fast high (5-7 KHz) . Swooping staccato call 0.5 seconds long heard near Lendikon. Repeated irregularly after 1-3.5 seconds. Call: Hohe „zi“ „tsi“. Auf dem Zug „zieht“. Etwas absinkend.. [Link] Contact call a dry, thick trill "trrr", and a short King Fisher-like, high-pitched "zeep". [Link]	♫

Bank swallow ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Contact call a mono- or disyllabic "trrrrt". Similar to House Martin but more raucous and less crisp, with less rolling r's, and with stable pitch throughout. Alarm call similar to House Martin; a sharp plaintive "tseep", but somewhat purer and more drawn. [Link]	♫
simple rhythmic
Common house martin ■■	simple rhythmic fast high (4-7 KHz) . Heard from in the air, loud, with lots of chirps! Call: Contact call a rolling "krreet". Similar to Sand Martin but noticeably dryer, more rolling and less raucous. Typically varies the pitch of the call more. Warning call a sharp and plaintive "tsreee". [Link]	♫
one note
Barn swallow ■■	one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . - flight call. Call: Contact call a short and sharp "weet" or "kee-weet". [Link]	♫
non-musical
Eurasian hobby ■■	non-musical slow low (1-3 KHz) . General: About 20 single notes. Call: Calls when courting and at breeding ground. Most common sound a high-pitched "tew-tew-tew". Similar to Wryneck, but less pleading. Also a sneezing "ktcho". [Link]	♫
one note
Common kestrel ■■	one note fast low-high (2-7 KHz) . Heard from in the air, about 6 notes per second (do I find them high??) Call: Turmfalke kann auch wie einen Specht tönen, scharf und relativ hoch [Link] Most common call a fast series of short, high-pitched "ke-ke-ke". Much less raucous than Merlin or Peregrine. [Link]	♫

Eurasian sparrowhawk ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: wie „gigigi“. Ähnlichkeit mit Wendehals, aber klarer und schneller. Schneller auch als Grünspecht und tiefer als Turmfalke. [Link] Less resonant and less full than similar call of Goshawk, and much faster. Also a short "peeaaaa", shorter and more squeaky than Buzzard. [Link]	♫
White stork ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
non-musical
rasp
Grey heron ■■	rasp non-musical slow low (1-3 KHz) . General: Mechanical-sounding sort-of-a-quack Call: Quite vocal. Most common call a short, far reaching and extremely harsh, rasping sound. At breeding ground a varied repertoire of harsh and clattering sounds. [Link] Call: Most common call a short, far reaching and extremely harsh, rasping sound. [Link]	♫
Little egret ■■	non-musical slow low (1-3 KHz) . Sort of a quack, brighter and higher than grey heron, with a bit of wawa.	♫

Wood warbler ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_ZOOM Call: „düü“ [Link] Typically with a staccato beginning. Pitch drops as the speed increases and the syllables fuses into a continuous trill. Often described as the sound of a spinning coin coming to rest on a glass table. Some phrases may be given in an almost even tempo, and may recall Bonelli's Warbler. [Link]	♫
one note
irregularly rhythmic
Spotted flycatcher ■■	irregularly rhythmic one note slow high (4-7 KHz) . General: To me something between a one-note and an extremely simple melody, namely med-med chk-hi-med-med, with a very irregular speed, not at all like a metronome. Call: Most calls high pitched with a buzzing, "electric" timbre. [Link] Call: The discreet calls often goes unnoticed. Most calls high pitched with a buzzing, "electric" timbre. Alarm call a sharp, drawn "tzreeeee-check", with the second syllable abruptly clipping the sound. [Link]	♫
White-throated dipper ■■	one note slow high (4-7 KHz) . Chirp repeated 1-2s. Call: Contact call a short, metallic and explosive "zrreet", often betraying its presence perched among boulders or when flying up and down a stream. [Link]	♫
whoop
European pied flycatcher ■■	whoop one note slow medium (1-5 KHz) . Call: Alarm call a sharp, energetic "wit", often in combination with a short "tic"; "whit-tic". Typically starts with disyllabic notes being repeated 3-5 times, diminishing in pitch and intensity like an echo of the first two syllables. Occasionally throws in a quick diagnostic ascending scale excercise. Clear notes and well defined pauses between phrases. [Link]	♫

Ring ouzel ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Alarm call a series of "chok-chok". Thicker and more resonant than Redwing. [Link]	♫
Common stonechat ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: hart „track“ oder „fiet-track-track“ [Link]	♫
Asian palm-swift	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Baya weaver	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Whiskered tern ❑❑	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Contact call freely used and fairly distinct: An extremely hoarse, and rasping "krreek" in various moods. Timbre comparable to Corncrake. Sometimes uttered in stuttering series "kr-kr-kr-kr-kr". [Link]	♫
Western yellow wagtail	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Chinese pond heron	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Pacific swift	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
German's swiftlet	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Sardinian warbler	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN	♫
Purple heron ■■	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Pitch slightly higher and remains stable throughout the short call. Volume muffled and timbre drier. [Link]	♫
Medium egret	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Crested serpent eagle	- alarm call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Western marsh harrier ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Call: A sharp "kwii-uuu" of about a seconds length, rapidly ascending in pitch, and ending on a falling tone. [Link]	♫
Wreathed hornbill	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Rock dove ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Grey-headed lapwing	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Blue-tailed bee-eater	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Little ringed plover	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Black baza	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Chestnut-headed bee-eater	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Pallid swift ■❑	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Common swift has a more even call, with accents on first part, without the sudden pitch-drop. [Link]	♫
Oriental darter	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Black-winged stilt ❑❑	- flight call. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Note that immature birds have a different contact call closely resembling Wood Sandpiper, but do not utter it in series. [Link]	♫
Northern cardinal	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_BIRDNET	♫
Painted stork	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Peregrine falcon ■■	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Also shorter, coarse warning-calls. [Link]	♫
American robin	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN	♫
Carolina wren	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. - but really OWN_VIA_BIRDNET	♫
Western cattle egret	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording.	♫
Northern harrier ■❑	- song. No details but a Xeno-Canto recording. Call: Calls with quite soft series of "ke-ke-ke-ke". Also a wailing, squealing whistle, with emphasized first syllable. [Link]	♫

Practice

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