Brilliant messages from the late physician and writer
While woodpeckers might not be known for their chirps or their songs, their rapid-fire percussion skills are world famous. The drumming of woodpeckers drilling holes into the sides of trees are one of the forest's most beautiful and unique sounds.
Howler monkeys, naturally, are known to make quite a lot of noise. They stay in seemingly constant communication with each other, speaking and singing in guttural, bark-like calls.
Hummingbirds might be more famous for the buzzing sound produced by their impossibly fast wings, but they are also beautiful singers, albeit on the quiet side when it comes to birds.
Whales are known to have some of the deepest, most beautiful songs in the entire animal kingdom, and the humpback whale especially stands out. The humpback whale's extensive vocabulary consists of squeaks, clicks, and whistles, making them fascinating to listen to.
Like many other seafaring mammals, orcas are loud and impressive crooners, whose songs come from deep within. Orcas sing in high-pitched, echoey voices that seem to travel for large stretches.
Recent scientific studies suggest that dolphins might have one of the largest spoken vocabularies in the world, second only to humans. Dolphins participate in detailed and beautiful conversations with each other using their vocabulary of squeaks, clicks, and cries.
Staying true to their name, mockingbirds are known to repeat themselves and each other. Mockingbirds may repeat the same succession of notes up to five times before switching it up, or they'll be immediately answered by a nearby mockingbird who repeats the phrase of the first. They are also known to mimic the songs of other bird species.
The soft, gentle coo of a mourning dove can be one of the most relaxing sounds in the world.
Cheetahs are unique from other big wild cats in a number of ways, one of which is their noticeable lack of a formidable roar. What they offer instead are small, high-pitched chirps that sound much more like a bird than any cat.
Koalas are known for their insatiable penchant for eucalyptus and their fuzzy bodies, but not so much for their truly surprising communication techniques. The song of the koala is a deep, guttural version of throat singing that can be heard far and wide.
Nightingales are some of the most accomplished avian vocalists around. Their songs are complex, filled with musical flair, and are invariably a pleasure for the ears.
As is the case with most canines, red foxes generally communicate in barks. The bark of a fox, however, is unmistakably different from any other wolf or dog. The fox call can go from bark to screech to yelp and back again in no time, and they actually have over 20 distinct calls used to communicate amongst themselves and also to warn against rivals and potential predators.
Cute and tiny antelope squirrels, native to the southwestern United States, are easy prey for many other animals around, so they must be on high alert at all times. In order to ward off predators and warn others of possible dangers, they use a special call that sounds like a tiny, rapid-fire machine gun.
Tree frogs are some of the most dedicated singers in the animal kingdom. In fact, nearly 15% of the average tree frogs total body mass is nothing but their vocal cords. With that in mind, it's only fitting that they would put those heavy cords to good use.
Most people don't think of fish as being the most vocal animals, but the toadfish is always ready to break that stereotype. As one could probably guess by their name, the toadfish emits a mating call that sounds very similar to the toads you might hear on a rainy night in the country.
Most don't associate mice with having lovely singing voices, but that's because most people simply can't hear it. Male mice sing an assumedly beautiful love song when attracting nearby mates, but their pitch is so high it can't be heard by humans.
Mexican free-tailed bats also sing in the almost-supersonic range, and have more than just one tune in their toolbox. Researchers have found that these bats sing beautiful bat songs to attract mates, and once they've found a partner, they switch to different songs and keep on singing.
Seals are very vocal animals and will jump at just about any excuse to sing a song. From pup-like barks to whines and grunts, seals of all sorts have a lot to say and are experts at getting their points across.
Pacific chorus frogs produce the most common frog call along the western coast of North and Central America. Chorus frogs sing about everything from love, to the weather, to territorial boundaries.
The porcupines of North America are well known for their sharp quills and solitary nature, but they also make some of the cutest sounds around. Oftentimes, when communicating with each other and with humans, they can sound like small little gremlins in the most endearing way imaginable.
The male elk mating call is called a "bugle," and while it not might be the most pleasant sound to human ears, they certainly put their all into their performance. From the guttural to the squealing noises, an elk bugle can be heard from nearly a mile (1.2 km) away.
Elephants produce one of the most recognizable sounds in the animal kingdom, and one of the most beautiful, too. Their famous trumpeting certainly deserves our attention, but a lesser-known elephant sound is the infrasonic rumble they emit, sometimes too low for human ears to pick up on, that quite literally makes the ground shake. This can be used to feel out their surroundings, and also to keep track of one another.
Walrus also have a wide vocabulary with which to express themselves. Apart from their characteristic grunts and growls, they are also expert whistlers, and can even produce a special "bell" sound the sounds like someone rubbing balloons together.
Lyrebirds are one of the best mimickers in the world, and can reproduce just about any sound they hear. This incredible singing talent can be utilized to copy everything from other bird calls, to a passing child's toy laser gun, or even the snap of a tourist's camera.
Source: (Treehugger) (Animal Kooky) (Insider)
See also: The many health benefits of singing
Wolves are quite possibly the most famous four-legged singers out there. The hauntingly beautiful and lonely croon of a wolf is one of the most special sounds you can hear on a silent forest night.
Native to North Africa, the ostrich is the largest bird on Earth, and is also the fastest on its legs, even able to outrun a horse. The males often have a very unique and beautiful mating call, produced by inflating their neck with air and releasing a low, airy sound that sounds like a woodwind instrument.
While most fish, both in fresh water and sea water, are silent, the piranha is an exception. Some of the most aggressive and territorial fish around, piranhas are known to bark at each other when their territory is being encroached upon.
Beluga whales are commonly nicknamed the "canaries of the sea" due to their beautiful and expansive vocal range. Belugas can produce sounds uncannily similar to bird songs, or deep, low rumbles, and everything in between, to communicate amongst each other and for echolocation purposes.
Blue whales hold many impressive superlatives in the animal kingdom. For starters, they are far and away the largest living creatures on Earth. They are also the loudest animals in the world, with a deep call that is often under the human level of perception and can travel more than 500 miles (over 800 km) through the water.
Just like humans, the other members of the animal kingdom have their own unique, and oftentimes beautiful, ways of communicating. Far beyond the stereotypical songbirds, nature is filled with wondrous and fascinating sounds that communicate everything from mating rituals to the marking of territory, to plain old gossip.
Animals across the world have proven themselves to be wonderfully talented vocalists. Read on to learn about the best singers in the animal kingdom.
You never imagined these animals could sing
The most beautiful songs in nature
LIFESTYLE Nature
Just like humans, the other members of the animal kingdom have their own unique, and oftentimes beautiful, ways of communicating. Far beyond the stereotypical songbirds, nature is filled with wondrous and fascinating sounds that communicate everything from mating rituals to the marking of territory, to plain old gossip.
Animals across the world have proven themselves to be wonderfully talented vocalists. Read on to learn about the best singers in the animal kingdom.