# So which bird can you imitate? **URL:** \ **Category:** Nature Talk\ **Created:** [October 30, 2025, 10:11pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176 "2025-10-30T22:11:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![donna165](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/donna165/32/65361_2.png) [@donna165](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/donna165)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 10:11pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/1 "2025-10-30T22:11:39Z")
[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-26/nsw-far-south-coast-bird-calling-olympics/104521500](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-26/nsw-far-south-coast-bird-calling-olympics/104521500) A very cute news item. My best bird call would be a rainbow pitta. My partner and I use it to attract each others attention when out and about. My partner does a very good whistling kite. ---
**Author:** ![mkanimallover](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/mkanimallover/32/62000_2.png) [@mkanimallover](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/mkanimallover)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 10:42pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/2 "2025-10-30T22:42:33Z")
I can do a mourning dove 😆 ---
**Author:** ![Quercitron](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/quercitron/32/41809_2.png) [@Quercitron](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Quercitron)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 10:49pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/3 "2025-10-30T22:49:15Z")
American Bittern ---
**Author:** ![AdamWargon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/adamwargon/32/44649_2.png) [@AdamWargon](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/AdamWargon)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 11:24pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/4 "2025-10-30T23:24:25Z")
I can’t do it, and I’m not a bearder, but I remember @russjones in 2010? making a Screech Owl noise (_Megascops asio_) to call them in, and they came flying in, just like pets. It blew my mind! ---
**Author:** ![AdamWargon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/adamwargon/32/44649_2.png) [@AdamWargon](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/AdamWargon)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2025, 11:33pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/5 "2025-10-30T23:33:23Z")
I just watched the video. Those kids are amazing! Even though they imitated a lot of species with harsh and unpleasant calls (parrots, corvids, etc.). They did a great job! I guess doing this in the field is a no-no now in birding circles, because you trick the bird into spending precious energy defending territory or whatever (defending it from you), so you’re disrupting natural behaviours? ---
**Author:** ![AdamWargon](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/adamwargon/32/44649_2.png) [@AdamWargon](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/AdamWargon)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 12:20am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/6 "2025-10-31T00:20:30Z")
Ecological literacy is at an all-time low now, so if you can do even a halfway recognizable voice impression of any animal (not just a bird), lots of people will think you’re amazing! ---
**Author:** ![ilenisaatio](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/ilenisaatio/32/42564_2.png) [@ilenisaatio](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/ilenisaatio)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 7:19am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/8 "2025-10-31T07:19:10Z")
I can do Tengmalm’s owl (Boreal owl, _Aegolius funereus_) well enough to attract them. First time I was able to do it (I was 13), after my biology teacher taught the technique during our biology club’s overnight trip, I was thrilled. I had practiced it for two months. Gave a really strong feeling of connection with nature. ---
**Author:** ![hartla4](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/hartla4/32/70292_2.png) [@hartla4](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/hartla4)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 9:50am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/9 "2025-10-31T09:50:57Z")
> [@AdamWargon](#): > > harsh and unpleasant calls (parrots, corvids, etc.) How are they harsh and unpleasant? They’re beautiful! ---
**Author:** ![apusaffinis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@apusaffinis](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/apusaffinis)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 11:11am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/10 "2025-10-31T11:11:58Z")
I can’t do it, but I always _enjoy_ doing curlew calls. Doing pigeon coos always makes kids giggle as well : ) ---
**Author:** ![Thunderhead](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/thunderhead/32/62294_2.png) [@Thunderhead](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/Thunderhead)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 12:00pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/11 "2025-10-31T12:00:46Z")
I used to be able to do the “whit whit” sounds turkeys make,when I worked for a park/farm. I thought it meant “food girl food girl”. I make “chuck chuck” sounds when crossing a foot bridge across a piece of swamp. It seems to chill out the red winged black birds and maybe some perching birds. ---
**Author:** ![yayemaster](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/yayemaster/32/12153_2.png) [@yayemaster](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/yayemaster)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 12:14pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/12 "2025-10-31T12:14:25Z")
Same! Also black-capped chickadee is really easy too. Warblers are easy as well if you can whistle at the right octaves. ---
**Author:** ![oksanaetal](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/oksanaetal/32/60589_2.png) [@oksanaetal](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/oksanaetal)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 1:59pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/13 "2025-10-31T13:59:24Z")
I can only imitate a human, but I do that FLAWLESSLY. However, I like to try American bittern and black sicklebill. ---
**Author:** ![danly](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/danly/32/42066_2.png) [@danly](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/danly)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 2:25pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/14 "2025-10-31T14:25:07Z")
I can’t imitate any bird calls in a way that would convince another bird. I would most _like_ to convince the crows that I am one of them. But no matter how urgent and deep and raspy I make my “Caw! Caw! CAWs!” they take offense and flap off. I fear I am inadvertently saying something insulting. Or perhaps it is the mere fact that I have the _audacity_ to try to speak to them at all, that offends them… ---
**Author:** ![dlevitis](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/dlevitis/32/78796_2.png) [@dlevitis](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/dlevitis)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/15 "2025-10-31T16:46:06Z")
I can honk like a Canada Goose well enough that flying geese will turn their heads and look. ---
**Author:** ![GothHobbit](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/gothhobbit/32/34548_2.png) [@GothHobbit](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/GothHobbit)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 7:05pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/16 "2025-10-31T19:05:06Z")
Mourning Dove and Great Horned Owl, both well enough that I get answers. I also used to do a passable Whipporwill, but I’m out of practice. Trying to learn Common Raven as well; they seem kind of amused by my attempts, and I have a feeling that I’m saying something like the corvid equivalent of “My hovercraft is full of eels.” 😆 ---
**Author:** ![ken\_ohio](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/ken_ohio/32/11607_2.png) [@ken\_ohio](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/ken_ohio)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 8:25pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/17 "2025-10-31T20:25:22Z")
I used to be able to do a pretty decent screech owl call. I stopped doing it because a couple of blue-gray gnatcatchers came out of some trees when I was hiking in the spring and doing the call. They were clearly upset. I don’t want to cause stress to the birds like that anymore. ---
**Author:** ![jasonhernandez74](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/jasonhernandez74/32/33615_2.png) [@jasonhernandez74](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/jasonhernandez74)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 8:53pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/18 "2025-10-31T20:53:48Z")
> [@AdamWargon](#): > > so if you can do even a halfway recognizable voice impression of any animal (not just a bird) I can do a pretty good Bullfrog! As for birds, my best is a day-old Domestic Chicken. Not too bad at the Mallard, either. ---
**Author:** ![mkanimallover](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/mkanimallover/32/62000_2.png) [@mkanimallover](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/mkanimallover)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2025, 9:13pm UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/19 "2025-10-31T21:13:09Z")
Yes! The bullfrog is my best animal imitation! I did it once for some captive male bullfrogs, and they were NOT happy. They tried to challenge me through the glass 😆 ---
**Author:** ![ericakeklak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9dc877/32.png) [@ericakeklak](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/ericakeklak)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 2:57am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/20 "2025-11-01T02:57:29Z")
The _Dumetella carolinensis_ in my hometown taught me their language, and when I return to the same area they remember me. I’m better at the cat-sounding calls than their more complex songs, though. I’m also really good at _cat_ cat noises for some reason, but believe it or not cats are not birds. ---
**Author:** ![mitvij](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.inaturalist.org/mitvij/32/29327_2.png) [@mitvij](https://forum.inaturalist.org/u/mitvij)\ **Post date:** [November 1, 2025, 5:58am UTC](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176/21 "2025-11-01T05:58:41Z")
Eurasian collared dove. Its kinda rare in our locality. I’ve tried to fool people using the imitation, but it hasnt worked so far. 🙃 Imitation has fooled Merlin tho. [Next page](https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/so-which-bird-can-you-imitate/72176.md?page=2)