The raucous call of the crow is familiar to everyone who has spent any time in their vicinity. It's a far cry from the melodious tunes produced by many of the songbirds, but once you get used to it, it has a charm all its own.
In addition to their harsh calls and occassional jaded shrieks, most corvids have a repertoire of chirps, rattles, and other odd noises which are less frequently associated with them. Crows and ravens are also great copycats, and have been known to to imitate noises made by other birds - or dogs, cats, humans, and even alarm clocks.
The following calls are those more regularly associated with the corvidae family...
Raven: 159K wav file
Description: This raven (Corvus corax) call was recorded when the bird was being harassed by a pair of Phainopeplas. Visit Doug VonGausig's site (Naturesongs.com) for a better description of the recording.
Source: Sounds courtesy of and copyrighted to Naturesongs.com, 2001
Raven: 43K wav file
Description: A couple quick calls by Corvus corax
Source: From European Birds - Songs and Sonograms
Australian Raven: 210K au file
Description: the very distinctive call of the Australian Raven (Corvus coronoides) - 2 or 3 strong caws, trailing off to a mournful sigh. The bird repeats this a couple times, and then seems to be joined by another doing the same.
Source: The Australian National Botanic Gardens collection of sounds
Crow: 72K wav file
Description: One of my favorites, this wav captures a crow making several clear caws, and a 'chuckle' at the end.
It is not a raven's call as I had erroniously listed it previously - but I've seen it listed as a raven every time I've come across the wav file on the Internet, or on Encarta.
Source: Microsoft Encarta (thank you to the 'Netizen who pointed me in the direction of its proper source. Double thanks to Dr. Kevin McGowan who pointed out that Encarta mislabelled the calls.)
Crow: 171K wav file
Description: Several crows calling (probably Corvus brachyrhynchos). The clarity is slightly obscured by water running in the background.
Source: The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center's songlist
Crow: 18K au file
Description: Stattaco series of crow calls. No identification was given, but I'd assume american crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos).
Source: This file was originally found somewhere on the Polish Home Page
Crow: 169K wav file
Description: An american crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) demostrates a couple different types of caws. Visit Doug VonGausig's site (Naturesongs.com) for a better description of the recording.
Source: Sounds courtesy of and copyrighted to Naturesongs.com, 2001
Crow: 190K wav file
Description: Several sharp, clear calls by a pair of northwestern crows (Corvus caurinus). Visit Doug VonGausig's site (Naturesongs.com) for more info on the recording.
Source: Sounds courtesy of and copyrighted to Naturesongs.com, 2001
Carrion Crow: 64K wav file
Description: A couple quick calls by Corvus corone
Source: From European Birds - Songs and Sonograms
Pied Crow: 6.2K wav file
Description: Single caw of the pied crow (Corvus albus)
Source: Berenty Reserve Sounds Page
Carrion Crow: 23K wav file
Description: Two short caws by a Hooded crow which is a type of Carrion crow (Corvus corone)
Source: This file was originally found on the Mobitel site.
Magpie: 210K wav file
Description: A magpie (Pica pica) cries out with its characteristic streak of 'mag-mag-mag-mag' calls and is later joined by another making the same cry. The file then breaks, shifting to a longer variation of the magpie's call. Visit Doug VonGausig's site (Naturesongs.com) for more info on the recording.
Source: Sounds courtesy of and copyrighted to Naturesongs.com, 2001
Jackdaw: 16K wav file
Description: A brief recording of the Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) practicing his musical chirping.
Source: This file was originally found on the Mobitel site.
Yellow-billed Chough: 14K wav file
Description: Call of the Yellow-billed (Alpine) Chough (Pyrrhocorax graculus)
Source: This file was originally found on the Mobitel site.
BlueJay: 72K wav file
Description: The Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) gives a couple 'Jay! Jay!' calls, and couple chirps, and then goes back to 'Jay!'.
Source: The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center's songlist
Bluejay: 172K wav file
Description: In this call, the Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) gives a couple of trills.
Source: The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Bluejay: 587K au file
Description: A long series of high pitched 'Jay!' calls by the Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Source: From the Web of Life page.
Bluejay: 15K au file
Description: A single sharp 'Jay!' call by the Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Source: hmiller's Guide to Animals Sounds on the Net
Eurasian Jay: 21K wav file
Description: The Euarasian jay (Garrulus glandarius) gives a single long 'jaaay' call.
Source: This file was originally found on the Mobitel site.
Green Jay: 622 K wav file
Description: The Green jay (Cyanocorax yncas) shows off various chirps & trills.
Source: The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center's songlist
Brown Jay: 77K wav file
Description: A Brown jay (Psilorhinus morio) gives a few high pitched calls.
Source: The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center's songlist
White-naped Jay: 355K au file
Description: A long file filled with the piping of a pair (or more?) of White-naped Jays (Cyanocorax cyanopogen)
Source: A page on the Songs of Brazilian Birds.
Steller's Jay: 127K wav file
Description: A lovely set of squalks by a Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri). Visit Doug VonGausig's site (Naturesongs.com) for more info on the recording.
Source: Sounds courtesy of and copyrighted to Naturesongs.com, 2001
Steller's Jay: 157K au file
Description: A Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) chirps a couple times, and then begins scolding.
Source: This file was originally found at the Southern Oregon Visitors' Association web page.
Scrub Jay: 87K wav file
Description: A Scrub jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) seemed to be flying towards the person doing the recording as he makes this series of chirps.
Source: unkown. Possibly the The Patuxent Wildlife Research Center's songlist.
Scrub Jay: 122K wav file
Description: A Scrub jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens) call. Visit Doug VonGausig's site (Naturesongs.com) for more info on the recording.
Source: Sounds courtesy of and copyrighted to Naturesongs.com, 2001
Pinyon Jays: 109K wav file
Description: A huge party of Pinyon jays (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) fly overhead. Visit Doug VonGausig's site (Naturesongs.com) for more info on the recording.
Source: Sounds courtesy of and copyrighted to Naturesongs.com, 2001
Also check out the following sites for more corvid calls:
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