There's a bird that I hear every day at dusk and dawn. I've listened to every call available on this site and cannot find it. It's a simple, two note "oh-hai" call with an almost chicken-like quality. Yet it somehow manages to sound mournful. I've also noticed an occasional second call, which I assume is from the same bird. It's simply a loud, ascending whistle.
Can anyone take a guess as to what bird I'm talking about?
No, I can't, but the "almost chicken-like" quality suggests a wattle bird. They are up early and have a bit of a chook-like two-note noise... but I'd say it's more a 'oh-gloh' than a 'oh-hai' :-)
- soakes
soakes
Olinda, Victoria, Australia
Well, I hear this sound every morning, it's the first tentative call the Kookaburras make when they wake up. Others answer the same way. It will get louder gradually until they start the laughing sound. I would describe it just like you do: O..rrr hai, because there is a bit of an rrrr in the middle. Does that help?
M-L
Araminta, where did you hear the bird? I can think of one species doubting its in the area where you can hear it.
Curtis
Sorry Curtishka, I'm not sure I understand what you are saying? I live in an area where I have countless Kookas, Owls......and all the birds some people can only dream about having in their backyard, I live right next to the Bunyip State Park, doesn't get any better than that. Trust me (if you can?), I lived in this house for 15 years, and if I shoud describe the sound Kookas make for some time, before they start to speed up the (H)-oo-rrr-hai, they do it quietly for some time. The first sound that wakes me up in the mornings.
M-L
Just read what you said again Curtishka, just want to add, I have lots of Owls where I live,( could be an Owl, very hard to describe a sound) I hear them every night and in the morning, people travel to the Park from far, to see the rare birds I have here. Please explain what you mean, who is doubting what I can hear where I live? Or is this a joke
?
M-L
Araminta,
Sorry I think you got mistaken from what I was saying.
This is what I meant: where did you hear this bird? I could only think of one species with that call but I doubt that species would be in your area.
Just searched Bunyip State Park, such a beautiful area, rich in birdlife. Have you seen a Beautiful Firetail? I saw that they have been seen there.
Curtis
That's fine Curtishka.
Anyway, What bird do you think it is? (the one I can't have in my area?) Now I want to know
I had to look up the Beautiful Firetail, I haven't seen one around here yet, there could be some though. I have lots and lots of Red-browed Firetails.
M-L
Sorry Alex, we are not getting closer to finding out what kind your bird is. Make a recording with your mobile if you can.
(I can't, there is no reception where I live)
M-L
Tonight when I next hear it I'll make sure I take a recording and post it. Interesting to know that other people know what I'm talking about. It's only started recently, seemingly replacing the Koel that used to call here a few weeks ago and (thankfully) the Channel Billed Cuckoos that dominated the area in December in the morning chorus.
Araminta,
My apologies! I read the 1st and third posts and thought it was you who wanted the call ID, sorry.
I was thinking of the lovely call I hear of the 'Diamond Doves' which is sort of mournful. But when you mentioned Orr..hai that does not match - its call is coo-coo, cuckoo-coo, coo-coo, (etc).
Curtis
.......we will all be waiting for the sound track
. Good luck Alex 
M-L
Well the audio isn't uploading, however I think the bird may just be a Pied Currawong. Its two calls I've heard are different to the usual Currawong calls, but I saw a Currawong in a tree through my binoculars in the direction of the call. I'll try uploading later to confirm, but it seems my mystery bird is just a Currawong.
I think that Pied Currawongs are some times parents of the juvenile Koels and Channel billed Cuckoos.
Curtis
alex - email the call to me and I can upload it for you: birdsinbackyards@birdlife.org.au