Hummingbirds are known for their ability to hover in midair and for the humming sound created by their rapidly beating wings. But did you know that hummingbirds also vocalize with a range of chirps, squeaks, and whistles? Their diverse vocalizations allow hummingbirds to communicate important information to each other.
Purpose of Hummingbird Chatter
Hummingbirds make vocalizations for several key reasons:
- Defending territory – Male hummingbirds are very territorial and use vocalizations to ward off intruders.
- Attracting mates – Certain chatters and whistles are used during courtship rituals to attract females.
- Communicating with mates – Mated pairs may communicate to signal location, share information, or coordinate actions.
- Begging – Baby hummingbirds beg for food with squeaky chirps to alert their mothers.
- Distress calls – Hummingbirds use alarm chirps to signal distress or the presence of predators.
The wide range of hummingbird chatter enables effective communication in different contexts. From declaring ownership of a feeding territory to signaling danger, vocalizations allow hummingbirds to survive and thrive.
Sounds of Common Hummingbird Species
There are over 300 different hummingbird species worldwide, and each has a unique repertoire of sounds. Here are the vocalizations of some common hummingbird species found in North America:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
- High-pitched squeaks and whistles
- Rapid chattering during courtship flights
- Starling-like rattles used to signal alarm
Anna’s Hummingbird
- Male song made of loud, sharp squeaks
- Short, ringing song chip notes
- Rising and falling warble during courtship
Rufous Hummingbird
- Repeated chipping sounds
- Harsh chatters in response to intruders
- Whiny squeals signaling distress
Allen’s Hummingbird
- Rapidly repeated tzeet notes
- High-pitched seet used in chasing
- Warbled songs with trills and whistles
As these examples illustrate, the characteristic sounds of each species can help birders identify the type of hummingbird by ear alone.
What Do the Sounds Mean?
Hummingbird vocalizations can be loosely grouped into songs, calls, and alarm/distress notes. Here are some of the specific meanings behind their diverse sounds:
Songs
- Warbles and whistles – Used in courtship; each male has a unique song to attract females
- Chittering – Rapid chatter marks a vigorous courtship dance
- Trills – A musical trill may signal the competing presence of another male
Calls
- Chips and squeaks – Short calls communicate location between mates or intrusion to rivals
- Begging calls – High-pitched squeaks by chicks solicit food from parents
- Contact calls – Soft seet notes establish communication between a mating pair
Alarm/Distress
- Rattles – Harsh chatters resemble a starling’s alarm call, signaling danger
- Shrieks – Piercing cries communicate extreme distress or pain
- Chasing calls – Repeated seet notes accompany pursuit of an intruder
As you can see, even short sounds can carry a wealth of information when produced by a hummingbird.
How Do Hummingbirds Produce Sound?
Hummingbirds don’t have a songbird’s vocal organ, known as a syrinx. Instead, they produce sounds via other anatomical structures:
- Bill clattering – The upper and lower bill are clapped together to make rattling and clicking sounds.
- Tail vibrating – Spreading and quivering the tail feathers creates a buzzing, insect-like sound.
- Wind passing through wings – Certain wing feathers vibrate when air rushes through during flight, causing a high-pitched whistling.
Specialized feather types like fringes, notches, and stiff shafts help create the diverse sounds. Changing posture, wing position, and air speed alters the tone.
| Sound Production Method | Sounds Made |
|---|---|
| Bill clattering | Chatters, rattles |
| Tail vibrating | Buzzes, whines |
| Air through wings | Whistles, squeaks |
By leveraging bill, tail, and wing sounds, hummingbirds create communication signals that are surprisingly complex for a bird so small.
Mimicking Hummingbird Sounds
Attract hummingbirds to your yard by mimicking their vocalizations. Here are some methods you can try:
- Rub two coins together near feeders to simulate bill clattering of food begging chicks.
- Blow across the top of an open bottle to create whistle sounds.
- Flick your fingernail against a glass to imitate chipping notes.
You can also buy special hummingbird caller devices designed to reproduce chick crying, territorial male warning trills, and mating songs. But take care only to use sounds during appropriate seasons so as not to disrupt their normal routines.
Recording Hummingbird Vocalizations
To capture hummingbird chatter yourself, you’ll need a few key pieces of equipment:
- A parabolic microphone dish to amplify and isolate distant sounds
- A digital recorder or microphone that can pick up high-frequency sounds
- Audio editing software to clean up the recordings
- Patience to sit quietly and wait for vocalizations to occur naturally
Aim for early morning when defense of territories and courtship are at their peak. Get as close as 10-20 feet away and avoid excess noise. With some luck and persistence, you’ll get some charming recordings of hummingbird chatter!
Conclusion
The diverse catalog of chirps, squeaks, whistles, and trills hummingbirds produce may seem surprising for a bird so small. But their varied vocalizations fill many important roles – from attracting mates and defending territory to signaling alarm and begging for food. Next time you spot a hummingbird buzzing by, listen closely to see if you can decipher its chatter!
