Though some might think I'm posting this as a group just because they are fun to listen to, I actually think strange sounds may have led to beliefs by early peoples in such things as goblins, fairies, maybe even some deities. Though it's an unusual sound for a bird, I won't include the sound of woodpeckers pecking. Similarly, owls certainly qualify with their screeches and hoots, but since there are so many, I'll give them their own post.

Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) Locally common. Bizarre song from this inhabitant of coniferous forests, often includes the sound of a cork popping, followed by wine being poured from the bottle. If the name sounds familiar to some, there is a singing group named after them. Song, Pics and Info 1, Songs 1, Songs 2, Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pics 1, Pic 4, Pic and Info 1, Pic and Info 2, Pics and Info 2, Pic 5, Pic 6, Pic 7, Pics 2, World Range, European Range, Pics, Info and European Range

Great Bittern (Botaurus stellaris) Uncommon. The voice sounds oddly cello-like.European Range, World Range, Pics, Info and European Range, Song 1, Song 2, Song 3

Eurasian Nightjar (Caprimulgus europaeus) Except that birds don't have to sing between breaths, I'd say this bird was amazingly long-winded and monotone. Courtship display includes some unusual displays...a slow ‘butterfly' flight, wing claps, and gliding with the wings raised and the tail fanned. Only in Asia/Europe while breeding in the warm months. World Range, Pics, Info and European Range, Songs, Song (don't bother with the list, just click the "Play Audio" near the top), Songs & Pics (2nd and 3rd recordings best...don't try the first one), Info 1, Info 2, Pic and Info, Pics, Song (click on "Chant"), and Info (if you read French), Pics, Pic 1, Pic 2

Black-bellied Sandgrouse (Pterocles orientalis) This bird seems so intent on producing loud volume suddenly, that he loses enunciation. To me, it sounds almost like a bird sneezing. World Range 1,World Range 2, Song, Pics and Song, Song and Pic (several in flight, half down the page), Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3 (nest and eggs), Pic 4 (nest and eggs), Pic 5, Pic 6, Pic 7, Pic 8, Pic 9, Pic 10, Info

Cory's Shearwater (Calonectris diomedia) Breeds in burrows.World Range, World Range, Song, Pics and Songs (only the 2nd song link works), Pics, Info and Mediterranean Range, Info 1, Info 2, Info 3, Info 4, Info and European Range, Pic and Info, Pic and Info 2, Pics and Info 1, Pics and Info 2, Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4, Pic 5, Pic 6, Pic 7, Pic 8, Pics 1, Pics 2, Pics 3, Pics 4, Pics 5, Pics 6

Flesh-footed or Pale-footed Shearwater (Puffinus carneipes) These birds are usually only seen while on board ships. One observer noted that, when returning to nests on land, ...they often crash into the treetops, then plummet to the ground, where they pick themselves up and waddle off to nearby burrows. World Range, World Range, Song, Info 1, Info 2, Pic and Info, Pics and Info 1, Pics and Info 2, Pics 1, Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4

Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) Smaller than the above species. Often called "The Moaning Bird". World Range, Song, Info 1Info 2, Videos, Pic and Info 1, Pic and Info 2, Pics and Info 1, Pics and Info 2, Pics 1, Pics 2, Pics 3, Pics 4, Pics 5, Pics 6, Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4,

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) Typical cooing for a dove/pigeon, but cooing isn't typical for birds in general. And it can be calming to people with frazzled nerves. Song, Info 1, Pic1, Pics and discussion of early range, Pics, Pics and Info 1, Pics and Info 2, Info 2, Info 3, Info, Modern European Range and Info, Pics and Info 2, Pics and Info 3,

Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis) A simple but very calming coo for a dove, but cooing isn't typical for birds in general. One of the smallest doves, it reaches 8 or 9 inches, and that includes a very long, black tail. World Range, World Range, Song, Info 1, Info 2, Pic and Info 1, Pic and Info 2, Pics and Info 1, Pics and Info 2, Pics and Info 3, Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4, Pic 5, Pic 6, Pic 7, Pic 8, Pics 1, Pics 2, Pics 3

Stock Dove or Stock Pigeon (Columba oenas) Typical cooing for a dove/pigeon, but cooing isn't typical for birds in general. And it can be calming to people with frazzled nerves. Similar to feral pigeon, except for the iridescent green patches on the sides of the neck. World Range 1, World Range 2, Range and Habitat, Pics, Info and European Range, Song, Pic and Song, Pic and Info 1, Pic and Info 2, Pics and Info, Pic 1, Info 1, Info 2, Info 3

Turtledove (Streptopelia turtur) My favorite song of the cooing birds. World Range 1, World Range 2, Pics, Info and European Range, Song, Pics and Song, Pic and Info, Pics and Info 1, Pics and Info 2, Pics and Info 3, Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4, Pic 5, Pic 6, Pic 7, Pic 8, Pic 9, Pic 10, Pic 11(nest and eggs), Pics 1 (Info in Arabic), Pics 2, Pics 3 (slow loading 5 pics), Pics 4, Info 1, Info 2

Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) A strange, hard-to-describe mix of sounds. World Range, Pics, Info and European Range, Song, Pic and Song 1 click on the triangle above the green bar at the bottom, Pic and song 2 Click on "Sound" at bottom, Pics and Info, Pic and Info, Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4, Pic 5, Pic 6, Pic 7, Pic 8, Pics 1, Pics 2, Pics 3, Info,

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) The only way I could describe this song is as a bassoon laughing, but this isn't actually a vocalization. It's the sound made by the male during a courtship display. You will hear it in some of the recordings. The parents divide their brood into two groups, with each parent taking care of one. A game-bird in many places. World Range, Pics, Info and European Range, Song, Pics, Info and Song 1, Pic and Song, Pics, Info and Song, Pics and Song, Pics, Song and Info in French, Pics and Info, Pic and Info 1, Pic and Info 2, Pic and Info 3, Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4, Pic 5, Pic 6, Pic 7, Pic 8, Pic 9, Pic 10, Pic 11, Pic 12, Pic 13, Pic 14, Pic 15, Pics, Videos, Info

Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) Another song that is hard to describe. Song 1, Song 2, Song 3, Pic and Song, Info 1, Pics 1, Pics 2, Info 2, Info 3, European Range, Pic and Info, World Range, Pic 1

Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) Locally common. The only description I can think of is a kid pretending to fire a ray gun. It is a diving duck, which can stay under for up to a minute. The males desert the females, and the females sometimes tend the ducklings communally. Range, Song(listen to the 21 kb recording), Pic, Info and Song 1, Pic, Info and song 2 of the American population (but my computer wouldn't allow the cookies for the song), Pics and Songs, Pics and Info 1, Pics and Info 2 of American population, Pics and Info of American population, Pic and Info of American population, Pic 1 male, Pic 2 female, Pic 3 female, Pic 4 female, Pic 5 unusual, Pic 6 male, Pic 7 female, Pic 8, Pics 1Pics 2, Pics 3, Pics 4 male, Pics 5, Pics 6, Pics 7, Info, Eggs

Smew or White Nun (Mergus albellus) Uncommon. Kind of a frog-like song??? Another diving duck, capable of swimming under the water after fish. European Range, World Range, Pics, Info and European Range, Song, Pic and Info 1, Pic and Info 2, Pic and Info 3, Pic and Info 4, Pics and Info 1, Pics and Info 2, Pics and Info 3, Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4, Pic 5, Pic 6, Pics 1, Pics 2, Pics 3, Pics 4, Pics 5, Pics 6, Pics 7, Pics 8, Info 1, Info 2, Info 1, Info 2, Excellent poem, Video

White-headed Duck (Oxyura leucocephala) Rare and localized. It sounds like a Geiger-counter. Still another diving duck, capable of swimming 30 meters underwater before surfacing. Range, European Range, World Range 1, World Range 2, World Range 3, Pic, Info and European Range, Pics and Info 1, Pic and Info 2, Pic and Info 3 including former range, Pic and Info 4, Pic 1, Pic 2, Pic 3, Pic 4, Pic 5, Pic 6, Song, Pic and Song (click on the triangle by the green bar at bottom), Info,