The animal kingdom is full of surprising sounds, but some animals produce vocalizations you would never associate with their appearance or reputation. From mammals that chirp to birds that sound like machines, prepare for an auditory surprise tour featuring 8 animals that make unexpected noises.
1. The cheetah chirps like a bird
The cheetah, known as the fastest land animal, might be associated with a roar or growl. But no! Cheetahs cannot roar like lions or tigers. Instead, they make a series of surprisingly high-pitched, bird-like sounds, notably a ‘chirp’. They use this for long-distance communication, such as between mother and cubs, or to find each other. They can also purr when content, but a mighty roar is not part of their repertoire.
2. The nine-banded armadillo screams (sometimes)
Armadillos might seem like quiet, armored creatures that peacefully scuttle around. But when threatened or captured, nine-banded armadillos (Dasypus novemcinctus) can emit a loud, piercing scream or shriek. This unexpected sound might startle a predator momentarily, possibly giving the armadillo just enough time to escape or curl up (though this species cannot roll into a complete ball).
3. The shoebill sounds like a machine gun
The prehistoric-looking shoebill (Balaeniceps rex) from Africa is a large, impressive bird. You might expect a croaking or screeching sound, but one of its most characteristic sounds is ‘bill-clattering’. It rapidly claps its enormous bill together, resulting in a loud, hollow, rattling noise reminiscent of a machine gun. This is often used as a greeting or during nesting.
4. The kakapo makes a deep ‘boom’ call
The kakapo (Strigops habroptilus), a large, nocturnal, flightless parrot from New Zealand, has a very unusual mating call. Males produce a low-frequency, resonant ‘boom’ sound to attract females. They dig special bowls in the ground that act as amplifiers. This deep booming can carry for kilometers and sounds nothing like the typical squawking of a parrot.
5. The red fox screams like a human
Foxes are known for their yips and barks, but they can also make a sound chillingly similar to a human scream or shriek. This high-pitched, piercing cry, often heard at night, is usually made by females (vixens) during the mating season but can also serve as a contact call or alarm signal. The unexpected, almost human sound can be quite unnerving if you don’t know what it is.
6. The Caribbean manatee chirps and squeaks underwater
Manatees (sea cows) appear to be large, lumbering, and silent animals. Underwater, however, they turn out to be surprisingly vocal. They communicate with each other using a series of high-pitched chirps, squeaks, and squeals. These sounds are primarily used for contact between mother and calf, but also between adult animals during social interactions. It’s an unexpectedly delicate sound for such a large animal.
7. The South American horned frog screams like a cat
The South American horned frog (Ceratophrys cornuta), also known as the Pacman frog due to its enormous mouth, looks like a lumpy, voracious amphibian. When severely threatened, however, it can produce a surprisingly loud and high-pitched screaming sound reminiscent of a cat’s wail. This likely serves to startle predators.
8. The muntjac deer barks like a dog
Muntjacs are small deer species native to Asia, also introduced to parts of Europe. When alarmed or during the mating season, they make a distinctively loud, short, barking sound, similar to that of a small dog. This unexpected bark has earned them the English nickname ‘Barking Deer’.
