For those of us with the gift of sight, we’re fortunate to enjoy the colours, shapes, and flights that make birds so dazzling. But birding doesn’t rely on vision alone. Many birders, including those who are visually impaired, experience the brilliance of birds entirely through sound, and it’s every bit as magical. Birdsong, calls, and even the rustle of wings give you a picture without ever seeing the bird.

Most of the time, you’ll hear a bird before you see it. Sometimes you won’t see it at all, and that’s fine, because your ears already know it’s there. (We are happy for you to claim this on your bird-list). And with practice, your listening sharpens, your confidence grows, and you start to bird in a whole new way.

Of course, it can also be maddening, you know it’s there, but the bird has other ideas. Every birder ends up with that story: the one where you spent an hour staring at the same tree, convinced it would finally show itself. Sometimes you even wonder if you imagined the whole thing.

So, what exactly should we be listening for? Let’s get into it.

Birdsong vs. Calls: What’s the Difference?

3. Practice, Practice, Practice:
Again, from the same podcast, Judith’s top tip is simple: Every time you hear a bird you know, say it to yourself. Repetition is key. The more you say it, the more you’ll remember it, and before you know it, you’ll be an expert on bird calls like a pro!

4. If It Sounds Like Words, Make It Words - Recall the Call!

Another way to get bird calls to stick is to give them a human edge. Birders have been doing it for years, turning sounds into little phrases so they’re easier to remember.

Most of us know what birdsong is compared to a call, but like any impressive how-to-guide, we’ll state the obvious. Remember, birding by sound isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection.

Not all bird sounds are made equal. Some are long and musical, drifting through the trees, while others are short, sharp bursts that cut straight through the noise. Broadly speaking, birds make two types of sound, songs and calls. Both matter, and both tell you something different.

OH SWEET CANADA

WALK TO WORK

TEACHER, TEACHER

Birdsong is the real showstopper. It’s usually longer, more melodic and, in a lot of species, mostly sung by the blokes. Males sing to attract a mate and stake out territory, often during breeding season. You’ll hear their best work in the early morning, especially during spring, that magical time known as the dawn chorus. In Australia, think of an Australian Magpie’s liquid warble rolling across the suburbs at dawn, or the astonishing mimicry of a Superb Lyrebird echoing the forest around it. If you haven't yet watched the extraordinary work of @jeremyfilmsthings, make a detour and click on the link.

Abroad, The Barred Owl in North America is famous for its “Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?” call, the White-throated Sparrow sings “Oh sweet Canada,” and in the UK, the Great Tit’s two-note call is often remembered as “teacher, teacher.” These quirky translations aren’t scientific, but they work, because once you’ve heard the words, you’ll never un-hear them.  

And here in Oz, we have our own fair share too. The Willie Wagtail is often heard as saying “sweet-pretty-creature.” Olive-backed Orioles sound like they’re half-apologising with their “orry, orry.” Eastern Whipbirds do a classic double act, the male’s whip-crack followed by the female’s cheeky reply. And this one is the best, we’ve heard some birders tell us that the best way to remember a Noisy Pitta is to remember “Walk to Work, Walk to Work”. Yep!

"Birding by sounds isnt about perfection,

its about connection."

That’s where the Modern Birder twist comes in: make it your own. If a call reminds you of a lyric, a catchphrase, or even a silly sound effect, claim it. Maybe that wagtail’s “sweet-pretty-creature” is more like a ringtone to you. Whatever it is, give it personality, a way you can recall the call!. Birding by sound isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection. If you can turn a call into a story you’ll remember, you’re birding the modern way.

Must-Have Tool: Merlin Bird ID (by Cornell Lab)

Feeling a little overwhelmed? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Lucky for you, there’s an app for that. Actually, there are several, but the one you need to have is the Merlin Bird ID, developed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. It’s like having a birding expert in your pocket, and it’s free!

BIRD CALLS ARE MORE LIKE BANTER. "HEY, I'M OVER HERE!"

Anyhow, what’s fascinating is that many songs aren’t fixed. Young birds actually learn their tunes, sometimes picking them up from older birds, and sometimes adding their own twist. In some species, regional “dialects” even develop, so a song you hear in one part of the country might sound different in another.

Calls, on the other hand, are more like bird banter. These are the quick chirps, squawks, and “tzeets” you’ll hear all year round, from both males and females. Calls are used to warn about danger, keep in touch with their flock, or just say, “Hey, I’m over here.” They’re short, practical, and often species-specific.

Take Fairy-Wrens, their high-pitched contact calls keep their little groups together as they forage. Or Red Wattlebirds, whose harsh squawks can double as both a warning and a bit of attitude. Some species even get tactical, a small bird might have one alarm call for a hawk overhead and a completely different one for a cat on the ground. It’s the bird world’s version of shouting “danger,” with instructions included.

Why is Merlin so good?

It’s packed with features to help you identify birds by both sight and sound. And it’s perfect for beginners and pros alike. Think of it as your birding sidekick.

Key Features:

• 🔊 Sound ID: Just hit record, and Merlin will listen to the birds around you, identifying them in real time. It’s basically Shazam for birds.
  
  

• 📸 Photo & Field ID: Not sure what you’re seeing? Snap a pic or answer a few quick questions, and Merlin will suggest possible matches.
  
  

• 🎧 Audio Library: Listen to bird calls and songs from your area, a great way to get familiar with what’s out there before you go birding.

How to Get Better at Bird Sounds: A Few Tips

Do Your Homework:
Before you head out on your next bird walk, why not do a little pre-bird audio research? For some, it’s like getting the setlist before a gig, you check out the songs, get familiar, and then rock up ready to act like their biggest fan. Jump online and head to eBird. Not only will you find bird calls, but you’ll also get access to sightings from birding hotspots around the world.

Pro tip: Listen to the birds that live near where you’ll be, especially the rarer ones you’re hoping to spot. Knowing their calls in advance could make all the difference between spotting a lifer to being left wondering what it might have been!

Ask yourself:
In episode 6 of the Death by Birding Podcast (highly recommended, we love Cesar’s view on birding subculture), Dr. Cesar Puechmarin chats with expert birder Judith Hoyle, who drops some awesome tips when learning bird calls.

Instead of asking, “What’s that bird?” all the time, try first asking for three guesses. If you don’t hit the jackpot, try narrowing it down by asking yourself.

1. "What family does it belong to?"

Does the sound remind you of something familiar, like a pigeon’s coo, a parrot’s squawk, or a honeyeater’s chatter? Grouping sounds by family is often easier than pinning down a species right away.

2. "Is it big or small?"

Sounds basic but its an instant winner. Larger birds tend to have deeper, slower calls, while smaller birds usually sound higher-pitched and faster. Think magpie versus thornbill. It's all about getting your brain to start breaking things down, removing the clutter of all those possibilities!

3. "Where is it? Is it on the ground level, head height, or in the mid or top canopy?"

Location is a huge clue. What level is the sound coming from? Ground-feeders often sound very different to tree-top singers.

Learning birdsong is a great brain workout!

Tuning into bird calls is more than a birding skill, it’s a brain boost! Learning to recognise and remember different sounds sharpens your auditory memory and attention span. You’re training your brain to notice fine details, patterns, and changes in sound, all of which strengthen cognitive function over time.

At LYFER, this goes beyond birding. Mental health and wellbeing is one of our four purpose pillars, so talking about this stuff means a lot to us. Research shows that active listening like this can reduce stress, improve focus, and boost mental flexibility especially in noisy, everyday environments. So while you’re enjoying birdsong, you’re also caring for your mind. A win for your lifestyle, a win for your health, and a win for the way we live.

Last thing, if you want to read more about birds and the good day bring to us humans, check out a few of the Avian Journals we wrote. Read it here.

Also here is another great article published by Very Big Brain, exploring just how good identifying birds is for brain.

Next up:

Vol. 05

What to Do When You Actually See a Bird