Wetlands are home to such a range of squawking birds that inevitably they offer some of the most beautiful iterations of this kind of voice. To a lover of squawks, swamps are a connoisseur’s delight.
Great Reed Warbler, Mallard, Little Bittern, Little Egret, Night-heron, Black-winged Stilt, Purple Gallinule, Purple Heron all squawking here in their distinct ways.
The language of sound is strangled. At least as far as objective descriptors goes. Words for different kinds of vocal expression are a little more abundant. Squawks, screeches and screams are all more or less in the same ballpark; though, while screams are literally within the human repertoire, I think when we use squawking and screeching of human expression we are using the terms almost metaphorically: they are far more appropriate when applied to the bird voice.
Rollers
Not only are they the most flamboyant of European birds, they have a truly outstanding squawk, purring and rhythmic but still that edge. Or is it a croak?
This recording was of courting and displaying pairs around a potential nest-site, so I suspect this is the species’ way of singing. Being such a picture, there’s not a lot been written about Roller’s voice.
Rose-ringed Parakeets
The loud calls of these introduced parakeets may well be the commonest bird sound in London now. And it’s a proper loud squawk, that gets a lot of bad press. But it’s not their only vocalisation. Once a group settle into a tree they keep in touch with much softer calls, purrs and squeaks, easily overlooked as background noises, as the birds blend into the foliage.
This range of vocalisation helps the birds work together as a group, which no doubt has contributed to their success in colonising new areas of the UK.
The Grey Heron can put in a pretty good performance with its deep guttural voice (As can the Common Pheasant that buts in here).
The prize for the ugliest squawk might well go to the song of a male Golden Pheasant – though notice the lovely, soft liquid notes between the outbursts.
But the popular choice for most accomplished squawk could well be the Eurasian Jay, who can vary his expression from a subtle lilting rasp to an outright shriek.
Squawk on!