Top 40 Bird Songs

Our 'Top 40 Chart' lists the most curious or distinctive bird calls in urban areas (mostly around Sydney). All audio files provided by Fred Van Gessel. Full details available here

Top 40 Song List

 
RankSongGroupFactsheetAudio
1Common KoelThe SorrowsFactsheetSound file (338kb MP3)
2Channel-billed CuckooThe ScreechersFactsheetSound file (190kb MP3)
3Southern BoobookThe HootersFactsheetSound file (236kb MP3)
4Tawny FrogmouthThe HootersFactsheetSound file (191kb MP3)
5Grey ButcherbirdThe CarollersFactsheetSound file (313kb MP3)
6Willie WagtailThe WhistlersFactsheetSound file (297kb MP3)
7Masked LapwingThe CacklersFactsheetSound file (282kb MP3)
8Little WattlebirdThe CacklersFactsheetSound file (234kb MP3)
9Australian RavenThe CriersFactsheetSound file (281kb MP3)
10Yellow-tailed Black-CockatooThe ScreechersFactsheetSound file (226kb MP3)
11Australian MagpieThe CarollersFactsheetSound file (219kb MP3)
12Pied CurrawongThe CarollersFactsheetSound file (283kb MP3)
13Laughing KookaburraThe CacklersFactsheetSound file (243kb MP3)
14Red WattlebirdThe ClocksFactsheetSound file (260kb MP3)
15Spotted Turtle-DoveThe CooersFactsheetSound file (236kb MP3)
16Sulphur-crested CockatooThe ScreechersFactsheetSound file (265kb MP3)
17Magpie-larkThe PeepersFactsheetSound file (253kb MP3)
18GalahThe ScreechersFactsheetSound file (244kb MP3)
19Noisy MinerThe PeepersFactsheetSound file (294kb MP3)
20Red-whiskered BulbulThe WaverersFactsheetSound file (287kb MP3)
21Black-faced Cuckoo-shrikeThe WaverersFactsheetSound file (223kb MP3)
22Barn OwlThe HootersFactsheetSound file (265kb MP3)
23Australian Owlet-nightjarThe HootersFactsheetSound file (319kb MP3)
24Powerful OwlThe HootersFactsheetSound file (302kb MP3)
25Fan-tailed CuckooThe SorrowsFactsheetSound file (242kb MP3)
26Pallid CuckooThe SorrowsFactsheetSound file (220kb MP3)
27Brush CuckooThe SorrowsFactsheetSound file (242kb MP3)
28Common BlackbirdThe WhistlersFactsheetSound file (247kb MP3)
29Common MynaThe WhistlersFactsheetSound file (298kb MP3)
30Common StarlingThe WhistlersFactsheetSound file (318kb MP3)
31Olive-backed OrioleThe WaverersFactsheetSound file (267kb MP3)
32Australian King-ParrotThe WhistlersFactsheetSound file (242kb MP3)
33Rainbow LorikeetThe ScreechersFactsheetSound file (280kb MP3)
34Crimson RosellaThe WhistlersFactsheetSound file (209kb MP3)
35Spotted PardaloteThe WhistlersFactsheetSound file (249kb MP3)
36Superb Fairy-wrenThe TrillersFactsheetSound file (299kb MP3)
37SilvereyeThe PeepersFactsheetSound file (299kb MP3)
38Long-billed CorellaThe ScreechersFactsheet

Sound file (263kb MP3)

39New Holland HoneyeaterThe SqueakersFactsheetSound file (277kb MP3)
40FigbirdThe WhistlersFactsheetSound file (285kb MP3)

Why do birds make sound?

Many species of bird are more often heard than seen. Most birds have some kind of sound-making ability and they vocalise for a variety of reasons, including:

  • advertising territories
  • attracting a mate
  • deterring predators
  • making alarm calls

How do they do it?

Birds generate sounds from a structure called the 'syrinx', which is located at the junction of the two bronchi (air passages) in the respiratory tract (breathing organs). The syrinx is controlled by pairs of muscles. Generally, bird species with more muscle-pairs produce more complex calls. The songbirds, also know as passerines (of the order Passeriformes), possess between four and nine of these muscle pairs and make the longest and most elaborate calls.

The Ornithology.com website has more information about how and why birds make sounds.

Scientific Name: Sphecotheres vieilloti
Scientific Name: Cracticus tibicen
Scientific Name: Coracina novaehollandiae
Scientific Name: Cacomantis variolosus
Scientific Name: Scythrops novaehollandiae
Scientific Name: Turdus merula
Scientific Name: Acridotheres tristis
Scientific Name: Cracticus torquatus
Scientific Name: Anthochaera chrysoptera
Scientific Name: Grallina cyanoleuca
Scientific Name: Manorina melanocephala
Scientific Name: Oriolus sagittatus
Scientific Name: Strepera graculina
Scientific Name: Trichoglossus haematodus
Scientific Name: Anthochaera carunculata
Scientific Name: Pardalotus punctatus
Scientific Name: Malurus cyaneus
Scientific Name: Rhipidura leucophrys
Subscribe to Top 40 Bird Songs
 and   @birdsinbackyards
                 Subscribe to me on YouTube