Animals That Sing
Birds Birds are one of the animals that sing. Just open a window or step outside. Do you hear birds singing? Many bird species use complex songs to attract mates, defend their territories, or warn of danger.
Whales Whales are also extremely well-known for their vocal abilities. Whales often use their songs to attract a mate, but they can also use them to communicate over the vast distances of the open ocean.
Tree Frogs In many parts of the world, tree frogs can be heard singing on warm summer nights. Tree frogs sing to announce their territories and to attract females. Their songs have been known to differ according to the weather.
Katydids Katydids or longhorn grasshoppers are large insects found in tropical and temperate regions around the world. Male katydids sing to attract a mate by rapidly moving the front wings. To the human ear, some katydid songs sound like the words “Katey did, she didn’t!” This is where the katydid got its name.
Antelope Squirrels The antelope squirrel is a solitary North American ground squirrel. When threatened, it stomps its feet and trills a warning song. Young squirrels have been observed practicing their songs as they foraged.
Crickets Crickets are well known around the world for their songs. Field crickets of the genus Gryllus are ground-dwelling. Male field crickets chirp or sing by rubbing their wings together. One wing has a “file” or sharp ridge while the other has a “scraper,” a series of wrinkles.
Cicadas Cicadas also use songs to attract a mate. Cicada songs are very loud, especially when they hatch by the millions. Some sing during the day, while others sing at night. Cicadas sing using a percussion instrument. They have a set of two true percussion organs located in the abdomen.
Mexican Free-Tailed Bats Males of at least one bat species, the Mexican free-tailed bat, use song to attract a mate. The males can change their songs so their female listeners do not lose interest, and they also use songs to warn away rival males. Interestingly, researchers listened to hundreds of hours of recordings in order to make this discovery!
Mice Male mice sing at an ultrasonic level – at a pitch too high for human ears to hear. Female mice can hear it, though, and males use their songs to attract a mate. It has been observed that some mice seem better at singing than others – some songs attract many females, and others none at all.
Toadfish An animal that sings is the toadfish. Toadfish have been described as “unusually vocal” animals. After all, you have likely never heard your pet goldfish speak or sing! Yet the male toadfish has a song that can be heard even outside of the water.