Learn 30 Common Backyard Bird Songs and Calls (Western United States)

The Western United States is home to a variety of incredible bird species with unique vocalizations. Here are 30 (plus one bonus) bird songs and calls, with tips on how to remember them.

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Golden-crowned Sparrow and Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay vocalizations by Nathan Pieplow (used with permission)

California Scrub Jay song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC110976

Varied Thrush song by Shawneen Finnegan (Used with permission)

Bewick’s Wren song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC109668
Photo by Caleb Putnam (Public Domain, edited)

Steller’s Jay call by Jonathon Jongmsa (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC109654

Anna’s Hummingbird song by Jonathon Jongmsa and Bushman(CC by 4.0, edited)
Bushman (call) XC153035
Jongsma (Song) XC109852

Black-headed Grosbeak song by Jonathon Jongmsa (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC254456
Photo by Abbeyprivate (public domain, edited)

Western Tanager song by Jonathon Jongmsa (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC254618

Black-capped Chickadee song by Jonathon Jongmsa (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC132861
Photo by Ryan Sallmann

Brown-headed Cowbird song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC178138
Photo by Ryan Sallmann

Dark-eyed Junco song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC254480
Photo by Ryan Sallmann

Spotted Towhee song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC254464

Mourning Dove song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC128006

Northern Flicker songs by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC104537 and XC104536
Photo by

Red-winged Blackbird song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC75497
Photo by Ryan Sallmann

Song Sparrow song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC142621
Photo by Ryan Sallmann

Yellow-rumped Warbler song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC138635
Photo by Lorri Howski (Used with permission)

White-crowned Sparrow song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC99572
Photo by Ryan Sallmann

Thanks to Terry Sohl for allowing us to use his range maps

All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan SallmannGolden-crowned Sparrow and Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay vocalizations by Nathan Pieplow (used with permission)

California Scrub Jay song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC110976

Varied Thrush song by Shawneen Finnegan (Used with permission)

Bewick’s Wren song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC109668
Photo by Caleb Putnam (Public Domain, edited)

Steller’s Jay call by Jonathon Jongmsa (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC109654

Anna’s Hummingbird song by Jonathon Jongmsa and Bushman(CC by 4.0, edited)
Bushman (call) XC153035
Jongsma (Song) XC109852

Black-headed Grosbeak song by Jonathon Jongmsa (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC254456
Photo by Abbeyprivate (public domain, edited)

Western Tanager song by Jonathon Jongmsa (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC254618

Black-capped Chickadee song by Jonathon Jongmsa (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC132861
Photo by Ryan Sallmann

Brown-headed Cowbird song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC178138
Photo by Ryan Sallmann

Dark-eyed Junco song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC254480
Photo by Ryan Sallmann

Spotted Towhee song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC254464

Mourning Dove song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC128006

Northern Flicker songs by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC104537 and XC104536
Photo by

Red-winged Blackbird song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC75497
Photo by Ryan Sallmann

Song Sparrow song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC142621
Photo by Ryan Sallmann

Yellow-rumped Warbler song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC138635
Photo by Lorri Howski (Used with permission)

White-crowned Sparrow song by Jonathon Jongsma (CC by 4.0, edited)
XC99572
Photo by Ryan Sallmann

Thanks to Terry Sohl for allowing us to use his range maps

All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan Sallmann

#Birding #BirdWatching #BadgerlandBirding

[pyro-]

0:23 Mourning Dove; iconic cooing noise, sometimes mistaken for an owl
0:35 Golden Crown Sparrow; descending whistles, "I'm so tired"
0:56 American Robin; cheer up, cheer up, cheerily (or variations of that)
1:15 Western Tanager; similar to American Robin in PITCH, sounds like asking and answering questions to themselves
1:36 Spotted Towhee; similar song to Eastern Towhee, "drink your tea, " but dry with few extra notes in the beginning
1:53 European Starlings; whistles, crackles, and squawking sounds jumbled up
2:06 Northern Flicker; establishing territory - loud, rolling laughing sound. sharp, clear call
2:35 House Sparrows; chick, cheep, chirrup sounds - nonmusical vocalizations
2:53 Black-capped Chickadee; chicka-dee-dee-dee call. springtime song, "cheeseburger!"
3:25 Steller's Jay; shuk shuk shuk shuk shuk call
3:34 Varied Thrush; ominous minor key whistles, pause between each one
3:55 Cassin's Finch; warbling song of fast notes, may include imitations of other bird species
4:18 Lesser Goldfinch; song includes trills, clear notes, wheezy-sounding phrases, may include songs of other birds
4:37 California Scrub Jay; rising schlANK noise
4:51 Woodhouse Scrub Jay; common noises - chattering noise
5:10 Dark-eyed Junco; musical trill that almost has a flutter to it
5:20 Bewick's Wren; starts with high notesm then jumbled lower notes, often ending with a trill
5:35 American Goldfinch; twittering and warbling noises, tee-EEE vocalization
5:47 Black-headed Grosbeak; sweet, melodic song - like a robin performing opera
6:12 Northern Mockingbird; a mimic, will sing the songs of other birds or make man-made noise - normally repeats each phrase 2-6 times
6:37 Anna's Hummingbird; rapid chip notes and buzzy radio static notes that could turn into short whistles
6:55 House Finch; warbling song made up of many shorter notes
7:10 Downy Woodpecker; whinny call along with a short, peek call
7:26 Hairy Woodpecker; rattle call and single note peek call which is shorter and slightly lower pitched compared to the Downy
7:52 White-breasted Nuthatch; repeated wah wah wah wah call
8:03 American Crow; signature cawing noises
8:13 Red-winged Blackbird; sounds like, "conk-la-ree!"
8:25 Song Sparrow; perches up and sings, their song sounds like, "maids, maids, maids, put on your tea kettle, ettle, ettle"
8:42 White-crowned Sparrow; starts with a whistle, then sounds jumbled, then normally ends with a buzz or a trill
8:55 Yellow-rumped Warbler; trill with two parts, a too-too-too section, then a to-to-to section at the end
9:08 Brown-headed Cowbird; variety of vocalizations, one of them sounds like, "bubble bubble zee!"

[woodsonjane]

I have seen 25 of the 30 birds in my backyard. Feeling very lucky. Thank you!

[InvaderMAK-ciux]

I've been hearing the Black Capped Chickadee's spring song in the morning every so often, and I was curious to know what bird it was. I'm glad I found this video!

[lindap]

Thanks for featuring some western species.

[summerturner]

Thank you, you’ve answered my decades- long question with the very first bird mentioned. The Mourning Dove is the soundtrack of my SoCal childhood 🥰

[Jen_S_Hassler]

The farthest west I've ever been is the Dallas/ Fort Worth area (long before an interest in tracking birds) so I watched to support the channel. However, I was happily surprised to see how many birds I'm used to seeing in the Mid-Atlantic region are more widespread that I would have guessed! Thank you yet again for such an educational and entertaining video, guys! Great job!

[djspoonhandle]

"the small and adorable downy woodpecker..." indeed. Nice video, thank you.

[absorbed-in-nature]

Oh, you beat me to it! I’m working on a very similar video tentatively scheduled for June.

[jmondine]

Heard and saw a white crowned sparrow outside my house this afternoon. Thank you for teaching me how to ID it!

[csfsangle]

Finished our magee walk! It was a blast. 17 species of warblers, scarlet tanagers, owls, and green herons. A very full day! Now I can stop bothering you guys about it! lol

[donc.]

Years ago someone said that mourning dove sounds like it's saying- it's going to rain tomorrow

[qwpmlrd]

I used to see a black-headed grosbeak in western Nebraska.

[AMac]

Great video! Any recommendations for a birdsong identifier? I have an unusual bird in my backyard that I don't usually hear and I'm not hearing it from any compilations like this. Bay Area CA.

[pauraque]

That NOMO was really likely the HOWR calls 👀

Also thanks for paying attention to the west 🙌

[Isaac-]

Where would I find the oldest recordings of bird calls?

[Kitefinshark]

Sorry I'm late but during the spring nearly every time I walk outside I always hear a bird call that goes something like Tee Tee teeteeteeteetee. I'm around the Seattle area and I'm wondering what the bird is. If you could tell me that would be great, thanks!

[--SHEPHERD-OF-MOTHER-EARTH--]

Jesus and Mother Earth Truly Watch Then...

HE 🌈 WATCHES
SHE 🌍 WATCHES

[lisajoy]

What bird makes the sound at the very beginning? It's while the spotted towhee is on screen, but I have found no other videos of spotted towhees making that sound. Been trying to name that bird call for months!

[funkathrusta]

Wow I hate the way this video is structured lol just play the sound with the name of the bird