what bird makes a sound like a goat/sheep, after dark? (1 Viewer)

[schmintan]

hi. i live in the countryside in ireland. at night, during the summer, only after dark, there is a bird that i want to identify. it makes a bleating sound like a sheep or goat. I know its a bird as ive heard it call as it flew overhead, but i have no glimpse of what it looks like. someone suggested a nightjar, but thats a very high pitched sound and not like what ive heard at all. around here, they are called "Sky goats" but i feel thats just a regional name, and may mean nothing elsewhere. any help would be great. thanks all

 

[Katy Penland]

Hi, Schmintan! A warm welcome to you from all of us on staff here at BirdForum!

Afraid I can't help you at all with your vocal ID, but I'm sure someone will be along shortly who can. You've certainly got me curious! :t:

 

[photo_luver]

I just looked up something quick on google and i got this....

One of the most fascinating parts of their fledgling life is the sounds of the adults and young. Just as night falls, the female begins to call with a strange sound much like the bleating of a goat. It is given repeatedly about every 30 seconds. The calls of the young are entirely different; they are drawn-out harsh hissing sounds and are given about as frequently as those of the female. What we believe is the male just gives the normal Great Horned Owl hooting, like “Hoo hoohoo hoohoo hoo.”

http://www.stokesbirdsathome.com/birding/journal/

I dont know if itll help you but ill do some more searching and try and find you what you need...

 

[photo_luver]

Also the shreik call on this site kinda sounds like a goat...

http://www.owlpages.com/species/bubo/virginianus/Default.htm

 

[Tranquility Base]

Nope! It's a Snipe!

 

[Rob Smallwood]

Or a Woodcock?

 

[photo_luver]

American Woodcock? i think thats what it sounds like...

 

[Katy Penland]

Um, Photo_luver, except that Great Horned Owl doesn't occur in Europe. Nor does American Woodcock.

 

[Stewart J.]

I'd go with Woodcock as well, and welcome to BF schmintan.

Stewart

 

[photo_luver]

Yeh kathy i just noticed where he's from lol...

Sorry....

 

[Katy Penland]

No problem. But it's Katy.

 

[schmintan]

ive found the sound for an american woodcock ( aka snipe i think) here :

http://www.geocities.com/birdwatchernj/birdpages/woodcock.htm

it sounds nothing like what i heard. if i hadnt heard the thing fly overhead i would have thought it was a goat . its a deep bleating sound. thanks for all your help so far folks

 

[TWM]

I go with Snipe 100%

 

[schmintan]

listened to the horned owl sounds also, nothing like them. if i heard them out in the wild, id know they were birds. this really doesnt sound like a bird, but i know that it is . sorry for being so vague, but its all i got

 

[schmintan]

ive found snipe calls

http://www.sydneyolympicpark.com.au...diversity/birds/migratory_birds/lathams_snipe

its definately not this. definately not. il see if i can get hold of something to record the sound of the bird.

 

[Nigel G]

Hi Schmintan

I wouldn't like to hazard a guess but to listen to both snipe and woodcock - click on "resources" on the righthand end of the toolbar at the top of the page. The second item down on the dropdown menu is "birdsong" and both these 2 are listed there alphabetically.

PS. Just listened to your Latham's snipe above and that is quite different to the normal UK variety (Galinago gallinago) as per the resouces recording. In this one the 2nd half of the recording is often known as druming - a sound made by the air rushing through the tail feathers which are splayed out during a dive.

 

[schmintan]

just done that. the snipe sound isnt very clear, but doesnt sound like my bird . the woodcock is totally different. sorry to be difficult.

 

[M Cowming]

Try listening to Lapwing/Green Plover/Peewit (all same bird) calls. This could be what you're hearing.

Regards,

 

[M Cowming]

Try listening to the Lapwing call on this link...scroll to the bottom and click on vanellus vanellus. Alternatively, it could well be the drumming sound a Snipe makes with it's tail feathers rather than an actual call...come to think of it, that's probably exactly what it is.

http://mcssz-hungarnet.cserkesz.hu/~szazs/madarhang/

Regards,

 

[schmintan]

you could be right. a local farmer tells me the "Sky goat" ( aka snipe)makes the sound with its wings and tail. sorry for all the confusion