The Toot Toot Bird
Something odd has turned up in the woodland and it’s been driving me mad.
The Toot Toot bird. I can’t recall ever hearing it before. We’ve been through just about every likely bird call on the RSPB website and I’m blowed if I can find it. A recording of it then, how hard can that be? Excruciatingly hard as it turns out. Every time, EVERY SINGLE TIME, I go outside with the iPad the wretched bird stops calling. Instantly. Like switching off a light. And it’s been going on for weeks. He’s been sitting in that tree taunting me, I know it.
Yesterday he was going for it both barrels. My moment had surely come. Racing down the stairs I could still hear his call. TOOT TOOT.. Down through the hall and into the kitchen.. TOOT TOOT. Out through the back door and…. silence. Well, no way was he getting away with it this time. I would wait. And wait. Mike joined in. Considerately, he brought coffee. And an ice cream. We waited. For over half an hour. Nothing.
Don’t you just know what’s going to happen the moment I step back inside?
TOOT TOOT..
It’s a lousy recording. I took it through an open window, hidden from view. I’m wondering if I need a camouflage cover for the iPad. There’s a lot of background noise and you’ll probably need to adjust your set. But he’s there..
Come on all you birders, put me out of my misery please. Is it something dead common that I’ve just never encountered before? Or what?
If you’re on a slow connection there may be a delay while the audio file loads.
I can only say it’s a bit like a goose! Annoying though, toot toot.
We do have geese flying over at the moment, it’s possible.
No idea, although it is rather goose-like. It’s clearly mocking you!
It’ll be furious when it discovers I have not only succeeded in recording it, but put it on the internet.
i’m flummoxed. but you definitely ‘nailed’ it….it’s definitely a toot toot!!
It needs to be nailed to a branch, then I can find out what it is.
Whatever it is, the dratted thing has clearly taken lessons from The Squirrel in how to drive you nuts 🙂
Don’t mention the ‘S’ word. They’re back too. You’d think they’d have enough nuts to pillage elsewhere at this time of year.
The horn of a car, the driver impatiently waiting for someone to emerge from a neighbor’s house. How rude. A dog with laryngitis? Do tell if you find the answer!
At the moment a crow has the shortest odds. I’m going on advice from someone far more knowledgeable than me but I’ve still to find a recording of the call that sounds anything like this one.
I don’t think I have ever heard a bird like this, I do know that as my garden has filled in and matured that the diversity of wildlife has really exploded.
It’s wonderful isn’t it, that our gardens bring in wildlife if we plant the right things. It really adds to the pleasure of it.
Goodness, I’ve no idea – you have a mystery there. A hoopoe with a sore throat crossed my mind but I really couldn’t identify it – it’s quite deep isn’t it? And so repetitive. It’s so irritating when it’s unknown.
I was really hoping you’d know. I had to look up hoopoe, you got me there! The call is quite deep and has a hollow quality like some wind musical instrument. I’ve never heard another bird call quite like it, not in this country anyway.
I wish I could help but it’s not at all familiar and our bird species are generally different in any case. I had a similar experience with a bird that made odd noises, which I likened to the sound of an electronic car key. It turned out it was a mocking bird, which not only mimics the calls of other birds but also common urban sounds.
When we moved here there was a bird with a call exactly like the phone. Now that was irritating. I love your mocking bird story!
I asked the birder in this family and he doesn’t know! – like your table and chairs, and what a lovely spot you have there now since the trees have been removed – perfect mug showing another of your friends in the garden!
I did wonder whether it was the pheasant making the noise, but I don’t think so. I’m really pleased with how the garden looks now without the trees, it’s a huge improvement for light as well.
What an annoying bird call, I’ve absolutely no idea what it can be. I hope someone can identify it for you:)
I put it on Twitter and got some good responses, crow or goose seem most likely at the moment.
It sounds a bit jungle-like, any neighbours with exotic birds on the loose?
Only the peacocks next to the farm opposite. (The farmer doesn’t like them much apparently.) But their cry is more of a scream, a quite blood curdling one at times.
I wonder if it can be a Canada goose? I had a quick search on YouTube and found a movie, but I suspect a lone goose calling for other birds would sound different to several in a flock. If you have a lone bird that has lost its mates and is all alone calling and calling for them, it might sound like that perhaps? Ahhh….almost feel sorry for it now, but I suspect I wouldn’t feel sorry at 4 am it it was outside my window!
Funnily enough, in our previous cottage we did have a lone Canada goose. I kind of took it under my wing as it were because it only had one eye and had seemingly been separated from its flock in a storm. It made all manner of noises but no ‘toot toot’!
Ooops….I only meant to post the link!!
Didn’t know I would end up posting the whole movie….that’s YouTube for you….anyway, this is just a suggestion, not sure if it is useful at all 🙂
No worries Helene. I love Canada geese. It makes me smile every time I see it there!
poor bird has lost his mate?
It seems to call at specific times of day.. every afternoon/early evening. A bit like ET phone home?
https://www.opalexplorenature.org/ispot We think its a goose, but its weird. Try this site.
I will check it out, thanks Jill. I thought you and the DP would point me in the right direction.
No idea … But don’t give in… There must be a way to flush it/him/her out!
I’m on a mission to identify it now. It’s become a challenge.
Sorry I don’t know but it does sound a bit like a goose
It is a big bird, without a doubt.
It could be a Goose but what about Deer? Do they make similar noises? I don’t think either would be perched IN your trees though!
It’s definitely above ground.
Do you think it could be the bark of a small deer?
I’m pretty sure I’ve heard it flying. The sound moved from one part of the wood to another with the beat of wings.
It sounds a bit like a goose or a swan. But it might not be a bird at all…
It’s intriguing isn’t it.
Unlikely to be a deer as none of our uk deer call like that (in my experience anyway). Nearest I can get is a hoopoe. Send the audio to the BTO- if they can’t id it, no one can. I’m dying to know what it is. Maybe not a bird at all? Xx
Thanks CT. I was going to ask you to have a listen. The BTO is a good idea. I’d thought of sending it to Facebook/Twitter birdwatcher groups too. I found mention of a carrion crow with a ‘hollow konk-konk’ which sounds about right but I can’t find a recording of it.
Greetings from Kansas. I never post to blogs, but I had to today. To me, the toot toot bird sounds like a cross between an owl and a dog barking. So i googled barking owl. Guess what! There is such a thing. Cute little guy too. Sounds like your bird. I discovered your site this summer and am embarrassed to admit I binged read every post all the way back to the beginning. I love your style, content and photography. It is one of the few rare blogs I look forward to now. For gardening, it’s been there, done that.. except our slugs are not as big as banana boats and our pheasants are more shy. Nearly 20 years ago my mother even made little wire cages for her tulip bulbs… well before the internet. I got a kick out of seeing you making them, per her design. Gardeners must creative and adaptive to be sure. Enjoy your new creature sharing your little slice of paradise!
Karen, what a lovely comment. Thank you so much for posting. The barking owl is a cute little guy. I loved the YouTube video of the two of them ‘talking’ to each other! Gardeners do indeed have to be creative to win out. Like your mother I’m sure, I’d prefer to live in peace with the critters and still have a garden. Somehow! The cages work. The only trouble is, when the bulbs stick their noses above ground something always lies in wait. I have to have cages above as well as below ground if I want to grow bulbs! Welcome to rusty duck Karen and greetings back to Kansas. I do hope you’ll return.
I too, thought owl. Saw the post from Karen, maybe that’s it?
Hi Loretta, thanks and welcome!
It’s probably not a barking owl as they’re from Australia but owl calls generally were amongst the first type I looked up when the ‘toot toots’ started. Exactly the same thought had occurred to me. That or some sort of goose.
this site has sound clips to compare http://www.british-birdsongs.uk/categories/
Hi Val and welcome!
Many thanks for the link, what a useful site that is and one I hadn’t known about before. I shall have much pleasure perusing it looking for the toot toot bird. This is turning into a fun mystery!
Thanks Jessica ..Good luck with the search!
I need an Alaskan version as it’s so frustrating hearing lots of birds and I don’t know what they are! except for the large obvious ones ..I’m OK on Raven’s, Bald Eagles and Canada geese ..but generally if it’s not in view I’m totally stuck ..actually if it’s small and in view I’m still often stuck …I must do better
I’m much the same I fear. We’ve found out so much more about birds, and all woodland creatures, since we’ve been here but there are still many that have me stumped. The bird ID book comes out quite a lot but often it’s down to the call and that’s where the internet is invaluable.
It sounds like a goose to me – could one possibly be stuck in the wood? It could be a distress call. I’m sure it is flipping annoying if it goes on every day! Good luck ????
It’s flying around so definitely not trapped, thank goodness!
Definitely a donkey with a sore throat …
It is very rude to make such a noise and not show itself!
I hope you solve ‘The Intriguing case of the Toot toot bird’ !
We’ve had a very hoarse owl for the last couple of years. A donkey as well would be too much!
Are you sure it is not a crane ? We have them in Somerset and they are noisy large and invisible. Go onto Google and listen!
I can see (hear!) the similarity. I did wonder about a heron too because we have seen one around this summer. Anything’s possible.
Hope you can id the toot toot bird.
Me too. It’s out there again today, taunting me.
I had a similar sound baffling me from 30 or 40 feet up at the edge of woodland two evenings. It didn’t come in pairs, it sounded large, and was a duck/crow sound. The heron link above was quite accurate. Would they they go high up in trees?
Hi Lynnie,
A heron is an intriguing thought and we do have them here. I have seen one perched on a low branch where presumably it got a better view of the river. I’d agree, whatever is making the toot toot sound is higher up, 30-40 feet sounds about right.
What a mystery – I really hope you find out what’s making the noise as we’re all agog now! Do you have swans near you?
Not that I know of. Geese for sure. Perhaps I should play back the recording (loud) out in the garden and see if I can lure it closer.
I’m late to the party but my first thought when I heard it was a Canada goose ……. they fly over our house by the flock load and make noises like your toot toot bird. XXXX
They fly over here too. It’s similar, true, but more of a ‘honk’ than a ‘toot’?
Ooooo Jessica …… my icon has changed from pink to a mustardy colour …. I’m so pleased …. I hate pink !!!!! haha XXXX
I don’t know why it’s changed, but if you’re pleased then that’s all that matters. I was thinking of changing them to monsters. The coloured patterns are a bit boring?
Oh that’s a weird one. Can I vote for crow? I’m not sure how yours sound but it’s similar.
The lonicera hedge has really come in nicely, it looks like it’s doing exactly what it was supposed to!
Thanks Frank, I’m reasonably pleased with the hedge. It could have filled out more, especially at the bottom, but maybe next year. I have quite a few more ‘spares’ growing in the veg garden so I can substitute some of the dodgy plants if necessary.
It sounds like a call that might get on one’s nerves after a bit! Having lived where there were many, many Canada Geese, I’d have to say I never heard any sound quite like that, though it does make me think of water birds. Could you have some sort of heron around? Or maybe an imitative bird doing a bad imitation of… tooting… 😉
Like bittster, I think your lonicera hedge is looking wonderful!
Funnily enough, there has been a heron around this year. I looked up the call but it’s not such a distinct ‘toot’. In places the hedge is looking really good but in others a bit thin. It’s growing though and I haven’t lost a single plant yet. If they all make it through the winter hopefully it will start to thicken up next year.
I think it is a crow, and the Head Gardener agrees. Definitely not a goose as it is a repetitive call from a static position. Almost certainly a corvid, but not a Jackdaw, not croaky enough for a Raven (which you probably don’t have) and the not “caw caw” of a Rook, which leaves you with a crow and earache!
Your knowledge of birds outstrips mine and I’m sure you’re right. Twitter feedback suggested crow as well. I just wish a). it would show itself, b). I could find a recording of the ‘toot toot’ call online and 3). I had some earplugs. Mercifully it sleeps at night!
It might be a crow,there is a call that is used by one to another, but I think each pair of ‘toots’ is spaced too far apart for it to be a crow. However… my thought is that it’s either a Hoopoe (yes, they are in the UK), as in this: https://youtu.be/LOhuEQ4ZcUo or some kind of a swan. Another thought is that it’s a bird like a starling that frequently mimics other birds and – things. So it could be a starling mimicking a mobile phone.. or somesuch. There’s a just barely-audible warble at the start of each call.
The other thing is – it depends where it’s coming from. If it’s coming from a forested area, particularly at a distance, it’ll be distorted and sound a lot deeper than the original call, and will acquire some reverb. We often hear what sounds like some ghostly wailing in the evenings and it’s actually sheep high up a hill, in the forest up there!
What a beautiful bird the hoopoe is! Our ‘toot’ is deeper and longer but this is the closest call yet. Thanks for the link Val. There could be distortion. It’s in the woodland but on the garden edge of it. Frustratingly I’ve heard it flying just behind a line of trees, issuing a series of mini ‘toots’ as it goes, but I couldn’t see it.
The wildlife around you always seem to be a challenge! It was so interesting reading everyone’s suggestions too. I hope you manage to identify it, or the culprit show itself. Maybe you will need to wait until the leaves have fallen if it doesn’t decide to migrate in the meantime! Sarah x
It is in deciduous trees so I may have a chance. We have tawny owls though and I’ve always thought I’d be able to spot them in the winter but rarely have!
Are you sure it’s not Toad of Toad Hall going past in his motor car?
🙂
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Hi and thank you! Will definitely pop by.
It has to be a goose Honk Honk! Surely! When I stop laughing I shall listen again. 🙂
To me, it does sound more goose like. Just a single, very deep and echoey tone. Or even some sort of owl. But I’m no expert.
This lady is very good at her birds. https://delightsofthealgarve.com/ Don’t know if you’ve met? She lives in Winchester in the UK. 🙂
Thanks Jo, I’ll pursue it. Have a lovely holiday!
Really enjoyed reading this and then all your comments. It is an unusual noise, but interesting to hear if you ever get to the bottom of this one!
I have sent the link to the BTO, be interesting to see what they think.
Oh, having that constant, unidentified honking would be maddening, for sure! My guess would be a swan or a goose, but I honestly have no idea, but I will ask a friend who is very knowledgeable about birds.
Thanks Anna.
Does not sound like any crow around here, and we have hundreds. I will email a link to my sister’s ornithologist partner. Perhaps he can help.
If I had to, I would say Basset Hound. Which is no help at all.
Thanks. The more thoughts on it the merrier, I really would like to get to the bottom of this one.
Well I was going to say, do you have a railway track nearby. The Jay makes many different sounds and I have heard one making a very similar call to this. They are also very secretive, loving woodlands and only turn up now and then.
A Jay is perfectly possible, we had them nesting in the wood this year. They raised at least two chicks. Perhaps one or more of the family is still around. No railway tracks though!
You’ve certainly had a great response to your query and all the suggestions are very interesting. Listening to the recording first thing this morning as I sip my cup of tea has certainly brought me to life! Your sitting out area looks a peaceful spot. I hope you get time to relax there this weekend because of some good, tranquil weather.
Thanks Linda. Sunday looks OK but tomorrow is forecast to be a washout down here unfortunately. I often sit at my desk overlooking that area watching the rain pour down on the table and chairs. Being wirework they dry out really quickly though. In summer we can be sat out there again just half an hour after a rain shower.
I sent the challenge to my ornithological brother – he just told me he gives up after long trying! He thinks someone is having you on. Well, the sound beats the Dutch!!
I sent the link to the British Trust for Ornithology and they haven’t replied yet either. Have I stumped even them? Thanks for trying Henriet!
Jessica – listen to the sound on this video from 0.47 (I’ve got the link from that point but it doesn’t always play ball, so if you don’t hear the double tones, go back a bit in the video). I think this is your bird. It’s a raven. We had a pair of them a couple of years back in a nearby oak tree and one of them descended onto an ash tree in our garden, nearly breaking the branch with its weight! Let me know what you think!
https://youtu.be/cShTQNddJVg?t=47s
Thanks Val! This is definitely the closest so far. I was listening to the toot toot bird again today as we were outside having lunch. It’s so similar but there is no warble. The note is single toned, the toots are closer together and distinctly paired. Interestingly though, the video following on from your link was a chap talking about crows and ravens. He said that there is some variability, ravens can recognise each other from individual voices in much the same way as we can. Could the toot toot bird just be a variation on a theme?
A friend of mine sent my blog link to a bird recordist and he came back with raven too. Apparently a perched and very relaxed raven!
Yesterday, I heard the same sound from just beyond our garden! We back onto a local farmer’s cornfield and other crop fields and they were ploughing and there were flocks of birds there – seagulls, crows, rooks, three unidentified birds making their way there on foot (brown but I couldnt see what they were, I thought female pheasants at first but one of them was making courting moves to the other two, so probably not) and others I couldn’t quite focus on. But it was exactly the same as on your audio. Anyway, I had a look at and listen to some videos of the ravens at the Tower of London and sure enough, one of them was making that noise… only intermittently… and it seemed to be calling to a distant raven across the grounds. So… maybe you’ve a raven telling its family that there’s good stuff to had there! 🙂