Birds are quirky as a species, and their unique eccentricities know no bounds. Whether it’s in their characteristics, appearance, vocalization, etc., they will never fail to amaze anyone and everyone.
The more you know, the more you’ll get drawn to them. Every one of us is aware that there are birds who can mimic other birds or human speech.
However, birds sounding similar to a frog is a new kind of knowledge that will pique anyone’s interest in wildlife regardless of whether they are bird enthusiasts or not.
It’s like learning about the secret languages in nature. It will add an additional layer of excitement to your outdoor bird-watching activities while making you feel like you have a front-row seat to a live orchestra of nature.
So, we have gathered a list of birds that have a wide range of vocalizations, which can sometimes resemble even that of a frog.
Contents
15 Adorable Bird Species That Sound Like Frog
While it might not be a must-known knowledge, learning about birds that can mimic frogs is a delightful fact that can add a dash of wonder to your world.
Let’s spark your curiosity about the adorable bird species that sounds like frogs.
European Starling
Source: @autumnsky10
- Scientific Name: Sturnus vulgaris
- Size: 20 cm (8 in)
- Locality: Europe, Northern Africa, India, parts of the Middle East, and Northwestern China
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Mid-April
Being a highly sociable species, the European Starling, also known as the Common Starling, prefers to form large, noisy flocks, especially during autumn and winter. They create a sphere-like formation while hovering around their habitat to protect themselves against predators.
Diet
Predominantly insectivorous, this species prefers to feed on pests and other arthropods. As an omnivorous species, sometimes their diet includes grains, seeds, fruits, food waste, etc.
The males of this species are the primary singers. However, both sexes possess the ability to perform a large variety of songs. They are usually noisy and can easily imitate other bird species, frogs, and even natural noises around them. On rare occasions, they can even recreate the noise they heard only once.
American Bittern
Source: @gabriel_willow
- Scientific Name: Botaurus lentiginosus
- Size: 58 to 85 cm (23 to 33 in)
- Locality: North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Mid-April to Early May
The American Bittern, a large, chunky species, loves its alone time while living in solitary. For its brown plumage, it’s quite hard to spot in the wilderness. They hover around alone while keeping themselves hidden among bushes and other vegetation.
Diet
This wading bird’s dietary preference depends highly on fish. However, sometimes, it feeds on small vertebrates, crustaceans, insects, etc. It walks stealthily and sometimes waits motionlessly to ambush its prey when necessary.
As the American Bittern prefers staying hidden, the expert bird watchers spot them through their callings instead of searching for them here and there. The males of this species create a loud, booming call that can be rendered as “oong, kach, oonk.” It can be mistaken as a frog’s calling as it resembles an overflowing pump.
Northern Mockingbird
Source: @bklynbirdsong
- Scientific Name: Mimus polyglottos
- Size: 20.5 to 28 cm (8.1 to 11.0 in)
- Locality: North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Spring and Early Summer
The Northern Mockingbirds are adored for their intelligence all around the globe, especially in the United States. They can separate humans by recognizing them from their previous experience with them. It helps them be aware of predators. In the United States, they have been designated the position of a state bird in five states. Moreover, they have made their appearances in literature as well as popular culture.
Diet
This species, being an omnivore, eats both insects and fruits. They drink from various water sources and sap from trees. Their dietary preferences change according to seasons. The Northern Mockingbird forages both on the ground and perching.
The Northern Mockingbird is celebrated among bird enthusiasts and scientists for their mimicking ability. This ability is even reflected in their scientific name, which means “many-tongued mimic.” It can mimic the songs of the Carolina wren, northern cardinal, tufted titmouse, eastern towhee, house sparrow, wood thrush, eastern bluebird, Northern flicker, great crested flycatcher, blue jay, American robin, cats, dogs, frogs, crickets and many more.
California Thrasher
Source: @lagonewild
- Scientific Name: Toxostoma redivivum
- Size: 32 cm (13 in)
- Locality: California and Baja California
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: February to July
Being one of the largest thrasher species, the California Thrasher spends its days hidden behind bushes and any dense covers it can find. It is the reason why they are hard to spot in their natural habitat. While in the open area, they always run in a hurry and swiftly with their tails raised.
Diet
Different seasons require different dietary requirements for this species. During spring, their diet exclusively relies on insects and small invertebrates. However, the rest of the year, they consume small, soft fruits.
The California Thrasher is known for being an exuberant singer who can imitate almost any species that shares its habitat. Both sexes sing in repeated, cheerful notes and produce a wide variety of calls. It can mimic the calls of frogs, California Quail, Wrentit, California Scrub-Jay, Bewick’s Wren, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Spotted Towhee, Lesser Goldfinch, etc.
American Woodcock
Source: @mcbirdyz
- Scientific Name: Scolopax minor
- Size: 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in)
- Locality: Eastern half of North America.
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Early March to Mid-May
American Woodcock, also known as timberdoodle, is known for their distinctive rocking behavior. This species occasionally performs a display to warn other birds of their species of potential danger or predators. They walk slowly and steadily in a specific rhythm while moving their bodies back and forth in a rocking motion. It employs this movement to bring invertebrates to the surface.
Diet
This species prefers consuming various invertebrates, especially earthworms. Apart from the invertebrates, their diet includes insect larvae, snails, centipedes, millipedes, spiders, snipe flies, beetles, ants, etc.
Usually, the males occupy the singing grounds and perform their display while calling for their mates. Their callings can be rendered as a series of buzzy “peent” noises. They also produce a chirping song while flying and performing their display.
Black Jacobin
Source: @analukaminski
- Scientific Name: Florisuga fusca
- Size: 12 to 13 cm (4.7 to 5.1 in)
- Locality: Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Between July and May
The Black Jacobin, a hummingbird species, migrates whenever necessary. However, their migratory patterns are still not properly understood. Usually, they move toward the southern areas during austral winter. They have also been spotted on the northwest sides near south-central Brazil during the same season.
Diet
This species forages all around its natural habitat. It mostly depends on nectar and small insects for their food. The nectar is collected from the native trees and shrubs. The small insects, on the other hand, get collected from leaves and spider webs.
This species can create a variety of vocalizations that include a ‘szee..szee….szee..szee..szee….szee…,’ a ‘tsik’ or ‘chik notes’, and a ‘tr-r-r’ sound. Their hissing notes can create a sound above 10kHz.
Common Nighthawk
Source: @bethanysbirdsandbeyond
- Scientific Name: Chordeiles minor
- Size: 22 to 25 cm (8.7 to 9.8 in)
- Locality: Northern North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: April to July
The Common Nighthawk, a medium-sized nocturnal species, is known for its enigmatic coloration. This species prefers being alone and hidden. Its pattern and plumage color help it to stay out of sight, making it more difficult for bird watchers to spot during the day. Sometimes, they create zestfully erratic movements that help them detect with the naked eye.
Diet
It exhibits opportunistic feeding patterns while exhibiting a strong preference for insects. The Common Nighthawk’s meal choices include beetles, bees, ants, wasps, butterflies, moths, etc. Even with its wide preference for insects, it avoids consuming flies.
The songs and calls of the Common Nighthawk are almost similar. The males create a frog-like croaking sound that can be transcribed as an “auk auk auk” note. They usually vocalize this sound during courtship. Otherwise, their most common callings are known as a “peent” or “beernt” noise that gets produced during flight.
Hooded Merganser
Source: @a_viduetsky
- Scientific Name: Lophodytes cucullatus
- Size: 40 to 49 cm (15.8 to 19.3 in)
- Locality: North America.
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: March to Early June
The Hooded Merganser is popularly known for the speedy recovery of its ducklings. Within 24 hours of the birds hatching, the little fluff balls leave their nests. The nestlings follow the calling of their mothers and swim with them to the closest water bodies.
Diet
The majority of the Hooded Merganser’s diet includes various types of fish. It also feeds on aquatic insects and aquatic invertebrates. It hunts by diving solely depending on its keen vision.
Usually, this species prefers being silent. However, the males call during courtship and hovering around their nesting sites. The courting male creates a deep sound resembling that of a pickerel frog. It is the reason why they are known as “frog ducks” in Georgia. The females make a hoarse “gack” and a rough “croo-croo-crook” noise.
Common Moorhen
Source: @jukkakoskipirtti
- Scientific Name: Gallinula chloropus
- Size: 30 to 38 cm (12 to 15 in)
- Locality: Northwest Europe to North Africa, Central Siberia, Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: April to August
The Common Moorhen usually has a sociable personality. However, during the breeding season, they can become aggressively territorial and act hostile toward other birds of their species and water birds. After driving them out, they create a basket-like nest on the ground.
Diet
The Common Moorhen depends exclusively on vegetable materials and small aquatic creatures. They have to forage around water bodies, occasionally walking on lily pads because of their diet preference.
This species is known for its distinctive vocalizations, often transcribed as “kek-kek-kek-kek” sound. This noise helps them communicate with each other within the group. They can also emit a “chuk-chuk-chuk” and squawking noises. Their calls change depending on their activities.
Flammulated Owl
Source: @cgwildlifephotography
- Scientific Name: Psiloscops flammeolus
- Size: 15 cm (6 in)
- Locality: North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Mid-April to the beginning of July
Flammulated Owls are prominent for their inconspicuous behavior. Their well-camouflaged plumage makes it almost impossible to spot them during the day. If you are too keen on spotting one, then you have to keep patience and wait for them to make your move during the night. You should depend on your hearing rather than vision to spot them by their callings. However, make sure to avoid disturbing their peace.
Diet
This species relies highly on insects for their protein intake. Among the insects, they prefer feeding on small Lepidoptera, crickets, beetles, etc. On rare occasions, it feeds on small-sized mammals and rodents.
The calls of this species include twitters, mews, peeps, hisses, snores, moans, screams, etc. The males are exceptionally skilled ventriloquists and can produce a soft hooting noise, making it difficult for humans and other species to detect their exact locations. They also claim their territory with this call.
American Teal
Source: @birdsbybijs
- Scientific Name: Anas carolinensis
- Size: 31 to 39 cm (12.2 to 15.3 in)
- Locality: Northern Areas of North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Late April to Early May
American Teal, commonly known as Green-winged Teal, is a duck species that exhibits strong migratory behavior. During winter, it moves toward the south from its breeding area. Being a highly sociable species, it forms large flocks that resemble waders. These large flocks are usually formed during the non-breeding season.
Diet
This species has a strong inclination toward seeking food on mud flats. If mud flats are not available, they forage on shallow swamps. It prefers feeding on different varieties of seeds, including nutgrasses, millets, sedges, corn, wheat, barley, buttonbush seeds, etc.
During courtship displays, the males produce different types of whistling noises, while the females produce repeated, shrill quacks. Sometimes, they add a rapid chitter noise or persistent quacks to drive the predators away.
Tamaulipas Crow
Source: @camerawala.ktr
- Scientific Name: Corvus imparatus
- Size: 34 to 38 cm (13 to 15 in)
- Locality: Northeastern Mexico and Southern Texas
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Winter
The Tamaulipas Crow is not known as a gregarious species. However, it is not usually aggressive or hostile towards humans. It will not attack you as long as you don’t irritate or disturb the bird first. If you break their peace, then they might peck you.
Diet
This species primarily depends on insects for their diet. Their meal preference also includes eggs, nestlings, fruits, and berries. They walk around the ground, looking for their food.
The Tamaulipas Crow has one of the most distinctive calls among the birds of the similar Corvus genus. Its calling is quite unusual and almost identical to that of a frog. They make a low croaking noise that is often transcribed as a soft “gar-lik” sound.
Gray Catbird
Source: @kgallo55
- Scientific Name: Dumetella carolinensis
- Size: 20.5 to 24 cm (8.1 to 9.4 in)
- Locality: Temperate North America
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Between April and Early August.
The Gray Catbird is popular among bird enthusiasts for their attraction toward “pishing” sounds. It does not get easily intimidated by its predators. However, it aggressively attacks and pecks while defending its territory by flashing its wings and tails. Sometimes, it pecks and destroys the eggs of other birds.
Diet
Being an omnivore, almost half of the Gray Catbird’s diet includes fruits and berries. However, they prefer pecking at them rather than consuming them. They also consume mealworms, earthworms, beetles, caterpillars, moths, etc.
Rather than a frog-like call, this species is more popular for producing cat-like sounds. Its signature song sounds like a “mew” noise. However, it can successfully mimic tree frogs. Sometimes, it imitates the songs of other birds and even mechanical noises. It can create two notes at the same time, which is unlikely for this species.
Greater Racket-tailed Drongo
Source: @winged_rover
- Scientific Name: Dicrurus paradiseus
- Size: 31 to 36 cm (12.2 to 14.17 in)
- Locality: Parts of Asia
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: April to August
The Greater Racket-tailed Drongo uses its loud calls and vocal imitations of other birds to form foraging flocks. It uses their mimicking techniques to steal insects and other foods from the birds. It helps them to create a diversion. Moreover, they have been spotted imitating the calls of raptors to cause panic among birds and help in their piracy. They are primarily diurnal but become active before dawn and even late at dusk.
Diet
The dietary preference of Greater Racket-tailed Drongo is similar to other drongo species. It has a strong inclination for insects. Occasionally, it will consume nectar and fruits. It sits on high branches in an upright position and hunts its prey.
This species is celebrated for its notably varied calls. From repeated whistling noises to mimicking alarm calls, it can create a lot of complex notes. It often makes metallic “tunk-tunk-tunk” and nasal noises. They can imitate the sounds of other birds and human speech in the correct context.
Common Raven
Source: @gabrielle_garny
- Scientific Name: Corvus corax
- Size: 63 cm (25 in)
- Locality: Across Northern Hemisphere
- Status: Least Concern
- Breeding Season: Between Mid-February and Late May,
The Common Raven is acclaimed among bird enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts alike for its playful nature. The juveniles are mostly known to play with different items purely for fun. Sometimes, they slide down snow banks or play tag with wolves, otters, and dogs. On rare occasions, they have been spotted creating their own toys out of different items.
Diet
Depending on the food availability, season, location, and serendipity, the dietary habits of this species change. Being an omnivore and opportunistic bird, it feeds on carrions, grains, acorns, berries, animal feces, human food waste, and many more.
The signature call of the Common Raven is its deep, croaking sound. However, depending on their social interactions, they switch up their vocalizations. They have a wide array of complex vocabulary that includes prruk-prruk call, toc-toc-toc noise, kraa sound, etc. They can mimic human speech as well as non-vocal sounds from their surroundings.
FAQ
In this part of the article, we will answer a few frequently asked questions about the eccentric bird species that will get you excited about them.
Q: What bird sounds like croaking?
Ans: Several bird species sound like frogs. However, one of the most common ones known for its croaking call is the Common Raven. Apart from the croaking sound, it can produce different kinds of calls.
Q: What is the bird that sounds like it’s talking?
Ans: There are birds with exceptional mimicking abilities. Among them, the songbirds and parrots are known for their ability to imitate human speech. Some birds can be conditioned to create human-like sounds, such as the Mynah.
Q: Which bird sound is barking?
Ans: The Barking Owl has a variety of callings. Among them, the most popular is their “woof-woof” note, which sounds similar to a dog’s bark.
Thoughts
Now that you have reached the end of the article, surely, you have a better and deeper connection with birds than before.
The quirkiness of nature in birds feels like a testament to the incredible variety of life on our planet. It’s like possessing a cool collection of unique bird trivia. It will create a soft spot for all the wildlife.
Moreover, it works as a great conversation starter and a fun fact to add to a conversation. It will definitely raise a few eyebrows. This fun fact is like a friendly reminder of Mother Nature’s sense of humor.
It might not be one of your essential facts that can save lives, but it is one of those quirky tidbits that can make your life seem more fun.
Get more attuned to nature and know your birds today, fellow bird fanatics.
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