There are a few birds that are known for making alarm-like sounds similar to a security alarm. The most common birds that produce these types of sounds are in the crow family. Crows, ravens, jays, and magpies all have the ability to make loud, ringing vocalizations that sound mechanical and jarring to our ears. In this article, we will explore which birds make alarm-like calls, why they make these sounds, and how to identify them.
Birds That Sound Like Alarms
Blue Jays
Blue jays are common backyard birds found throughout most of North America. They are known for their bright blue plumage and raucous calls. One of the most recognizable vocalizations of the blue jay is an alarm-like call that sounds like a rusty gate opening or a noisy pump alarm going off.
This particular call is known as a “hawk alarm call”. Blue jays have evolved this call to alert other birds in the area when predators like hawks are nearby. The sound carries quite a distance and is picked up by other birds that may be vulnerable to an aerial attack. The next time you hear a jarring, squeaky call coming from the trees, it’s likely a blue jay sounding the predator alarm.
Crows
Crows produce a wide range of sounds, but one of their most distinct vocalizations can sound almost exactly like a security alarm. This call is typically made when a crow is distressed or agitated by a potential threat. It’s an alarm call that quickly gets the attention of other crows in the area.
The sound is a short, repeating caw that increases in pace as it goes on. The caws have a harsh, metallic, ringing quality not unlike a store security alarm going off. Crows make this racket to recruit other crows to mob predators and drive them away. A whole cacophony of cawing crows can create an intense din.
Ravens
Common ravens emit a similar alarm call to crows that sounds mechanical and buzzing. They make this high-pitched “cronk-cronk” vocalization to communicate danger and threats to one another. It’s thought that the grating, nasal quality of the call carries well over long distances.
Ravens nest on cliffs and rugged terrain so an intense alarm call enables them to transmit information rapidly across their territory. If you’re out hiking and hear an odd buzzer-like bird call overhead, it may well be a common raven sounding a security alarm-esque alert.
Steller’s Jays
Found along the Pacific Coast and through mountainous western regions, Steller’s jays have distinctive dark crests and vivid blue bodies. Their voice certainly stands out as well. One of their more alarming vocalizations is a repeated shrill screech that crescendos and accelerates.
This commanding call functions to announce a predator in the area, like a hawk. The Steller’s jay screams serve as a warning siren to all other birds within earshot. The alert call carries for long distances through forests and mountain terrain.
Gray Jays
Gray jays, also known as Canada jays, inhabit boreal and mountain forests across North America. They make their presence known with their loud, whistling alarm calls. When alerting one another to danger, gray jays use an ascending whistle call that sounds similar to an old-school police siren.
Starting low and rising sharply in pitch, the whistles are intense enough to be heard a third of a mile away through dense woods. This piercing alarm call stops most other birds in their tracks and puts them on high alert.
Why Birds Make Alarm Calls
Birds have evolved alarm calls as an essential survival strategy. Alarm calls allow birds to quickly communicate information about predators in the area. They serve to warn others of impending danger and to summon aid in driving away a threat. There are a few key reasons birds use alarm calls:
To Warn of Predators
Birds alarm calls instantly signal a predator’s presence. Other birds hearing the alarm know to be on guard, flee, or hide. Some birds, like blue jays, have specialized calls just for certain predators. This helps other birds know specifically what kind of threat is nearby. The more details birds can share about predators, the better they are able to respond appropriately to stay safe.
To Recruit Others
Some birds will mob predators or chase them from the area. An alarm call draws other birds of the same species over to harass the predator. For example, crows will recruit others using their security alarm-like cawing to face a potential threat as a unified front. There is strength in numbers when driving predators away.
To Alert Offspring
Parent birds use loud alarm calls specifically to warn their young of imminent danger. Baby birds that heed the alarm call and hunker down or scatter have a better chance of surviving a predator attack. The alarm vocalizations get the immediate attention of offspring and alert them to follow escape protocols.
How to Identify Birds by Their Alarm Calls
Learning to identify common bird alarm calls takes some careful listening. Here are some tips for picking out birds by their characteristic alarm call sounds:
Note the Timbre
Pay attention to the unique tone, pitch, and quality of the vocalization. Does it sound buzzing, ringing, raspy, or shrill? The timbre often points to the species making the call. Blue jays have a scratchy, rusty screech while crows are distinctly rattling.
Listen for Repeating Patterns
Many alarm calls are made up of identical notes repeated rapidly over and over. The repetitiveness creates urgency. Listen for repeats like “cronk cronk” or “caw caw caw”. The rate can help ID the species.
detect changes in Pitch
Does the call stay steady, rise sharply, or oscillate? Gray jays have a whistle that ascends while Steller’s jays emit a constant feverish shriek. Shifts in pitch are identifiable markers.
Note the Urgency
Alarm calls convey urgency and alertness. They tend to be loud, piercing, and emphatic. The tempo or pace usually quickens too. If a bird call suddenly sounds insistent, it’s likely an alarm.
Watch the Reaction
If multiple birds start making a ruckus after one initial call, it’s probably an alarm. The first vocalization often triggers a chain response as other birds are alerted and react. Observing behaviors can help confirm alarm calls.
With practice, you can learn to identify common backyard and forest birds simply by their characteristic alarm vocalizations. Understanding alarm calls allows you to glean insight into birds social structures and alert systems for survival. Next time you hear a strange mechanical, ringing bird call, you’ll know it’s just a clever bird sounding the predator alarm.
Examples of Birds Making Alarm Call Sounds
Here are some examples of birds making their signature alarm call sounds that resemble jarring security alarms:
Blue Jay Hawk Alarm Call
American Crow Alarm Call
Common Raven Alarm Call
Steller’s Jay Alarm Screech
Gray Jay Siren Alarm Call
As you can hear from these examples, many birds really do sound eerily similar to security alarms when vocalizing danger!
Interesting Facts About Bird Alarm Calls
Here are some fascinating tidbits about the alarm call sounds birds make:
- Some birds have specific alarm calls for different predators. Crows, for example, have distinct calls identifying perched hawks vs. flying hawks.
- Immature birds often can’t make proper alarm calls. Young birds must listen and learn alarm vocalizations from adults.
- Birds can convey information like predator size and distance through subtle variations in their calls.
- Some birds mix alarm calls with other sounds like non-alarm vocalizations to make messages more complex.
- The acoustic features of alarm calls are shaped by habitat. Forest birds evolve more high-pitched calls than open field birds.
- Certain birds mimic the alarm calls of other bird species. This can create false alarms that cause confusion.
- Some birds give false alarm calls to scare competitors away from food sources.
- Predators can learn to recognize and ignore certain bird alarm calls if they don’t follow through with threats.
Bird alarm calls are sophisticated communication systems that we are still discovering more about through research. The complexity and specificity of the information birds share is impressive.
Conclusion
The next time you hear a loud, jarring bird call piercing the air, you can bet it’s an alarm vocalization signaling danger. Birds from the crow family are especially adept at producing alarm calls that sound eerily similar to security alarms. Blue jays, crows, ravens, jays, and magpies all make these buzzing or ringing mechanical sounds to alert each other of lurking predators. Alarm calls are essential survival strategies used by birds to communicate information rapidly about threats. With attentive listening, you can identify common backyard birds simply by their characteristic alarm call sounds. So don’t be alarmed if you hear a ruckus of ringing bird sirens outside your window – it’s just the neighborhood birds sounding the predator alarm!
