The jungle is filled with the sounds of exotic birds, calling and singing to each other across the dense vegetation. With over 10,000 species of birds worldwide, there are many birds that inhabit the lush jungles found in tropical regions around the globe. Their songs and calls create an audible tapestry that brings the jungle to life. But what birds truly encapsulate the soundscape of the jungle? Here we explore some of the prime avian candidates.
Toucans
Known for their colorful, oversized bills, toucans are found throughout the jungles of Central and South America. They use their bills not only for reaching fruit high up in trees, but also for amplifying their vocalizations. Toucans have a wide repertoire of clicks, croaks, yelps and whistles, with the largest toucan species producing very low, resonating frog-like songs. Their unique vocalizationsecho through jungle canopies, contributing to the atmosphere.
Parrots
Parrots are another extremely vocal jungle bird. They use their strong beaks and tongues to produce loud squawks and screams that can be heard from afar. Many parrot species, like macaws, parakeets and Amazon parrots, live in jungle and rainforest habitats. Their noisy social interactions and contact calls reverberate through the trees. Parrots are among the most adept vocal mimics in the animal kingdom, sometimes even integrating sounds from their environment into their repertoire.
Cassowaries
Considered one of the most dangerous birds in the world, cassowaries are large flightless birds that inhabit the dense rainforests of New Guinea and northeastern Australia. They have a very low booming call that can be heard up to 1.25 miles (2 kilometers) away. The low-pitched “boooms” carry through the jungle, advertising the cassowary’s presence as they search for fallen fruit. Their loud, resonating vocalizations are an iconic sound of these Australasian rainforests.
Laughing kookaburra
Native to eastern Australia, the laughing kookaburra is the largest member of the kingfisher family. These jungle birds are known for their iconic “laughing” territorial call that sounds like a jungle monkey. Their calls consist of a long string of loud, reverberating notes that alternate in tone which carries through the forest. The raucous, laughing vocalizations of the kookaburra are a classic sound of the Aussie bush.
Lyrebirds
Male lyrebirds are considered one of the most accomplished vocal mimics among birds. They can precisely imitate sounds from their environment, from other birds to chainsaws. Native to the dense forests of southeastern Australia, lyrebirds incorporate jungle noises into an elaborate, ever-changing song repertoire used for courtship displays. Their complex mimicry and unique vocal capabilities earn them a place among the most iconic jungle birds.
Motmots
These colorful, long-tailed birds live throughout tropical forests in Central and South America. Many species have an onomatopoeic two-note call that sounds like “mo-MOT” or “mo-TELL” which carries far through the jungle vegetation. The loud, repetitive motmot calls are commonly heard echoing through jungle habitats from Mexico through Argentina.
Turacos
Found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, these fruit-eating birds are noted for their raucous calls that have been likened to barking dogs or donkeys. Their screeching, wailing vocalizations travel far through dense jungle foliage, announcing the turacos’ presence. Species like the great blue turaco have piercing, far-reaching calls that sound like a “KREEEOW” rising in pitch. Turacos are important contributors to the characteristic jungle soundscape.
Birds-of-Paradise
The iconic birds-of-paradise endemic to New Guinea are famous for their elaborate courtship calls and vocalizations. Performing males make buzzes, clicks, howls and harsh screeches to attract females. Species like the six-plumed bird-of-paradise fill the jungle interior with a cacophony of bizarre mechanical sounds. Their unique vocalizations are an essential part of the New Guinean rainforest experience.
Woodcreepers
This group of subtropical birds feeds on insects as they creep up tree trunks in Central and South American forests. Many woodcreeper species are extremely vociferous, producing high-pitched squeals, whistles and repetitive calls that carry through the jungle for long distances. Flocks produce a chorus of squeaky vocalizations that echo and contribute to the jungle’s characteristic sounds.
Cotingas
Within this diverse South American jungle bird family are some renowned vocalists. The screaming piha’s piercing high-pitched wail is a classic Amazonian sound. The purple-throated fruitcrow utters sinister cackles and clicks. Many cotinga species have far-carrying, unique vocalizations tailored to projecting through dense foliage. Their voices stand out against the backdrop jungle acoustics.
Umbrellabirds
Male umbrellabirds have an specially-adapted esophageal pouch which serves as a resonating chamber to amplify their booming jungle calls. The Amazonian umbrellabird produces a low, bellowing sound akin to blowing over a glass bottle which carries through the rainforest for over a mile. Other species make piercing rattling cries. The bizarre calls of these fruiteaters are synonymous with the sounds of the Neotropics.
Trumpeters
Trumpeters are large, ground-dwelling birds found in the jungles of Central and South America that make incredibly loud calls. The bare-throated bellbird of Amazonia uses its mouth cavity to produce a resonating “dong” sound audible over 300 m away. The crested and grey-winged trumpeters of the region produce a screaming tremolo punctuated with loud, trumpet-like blasts. The deafening calls of trumpeters are true icons of the South American jungle.
Conclusion
The jungle is not just a visual marvel, it is filled with a rich diversity of sounds from resident avian voices. Birds like toucans, parrots, cassowaries, laughing kookaburras, lyrebirds, motmots, turacos, birds-of-paradise, woodcreepers, cotingas, umbrellabirds and trumpeters populate jungle habitats worldwide. Their unique vocalizations form the complex audioscape that sets the jungle apart from other ecosystems. The songs and calls of these birds truly encapsulate the exotic sounds of the jungle.
