Calling birds make lovely noises that are appealing to birds and people. Here's everything you need to know about calling birds.

What are calling birds?

Songbirds are generally considered to be calling birds. Calling birds include goldfinches, wrens, sparrows, thrushes and warriors, to name just a few. These birds are small and hang out in larger groups, and generally do not like to interact with humans, but they do like to socialize with one another.

Calling birds use their dual-purpose lungs to make a variety of different noises. The anatomy of calling birds allows them to make several noises at once. Each bird, or group of birds will make different sounds though they all generally make more than one noise. Some noises are used for singing while others are used for warning calls and mating rituals.

Calling birds live all over the United States, but most of them disappear in the winter. Calling birds are migratory birds and will up and leave their Northern most homes when the weather changes for a nice warm reprieve in the south.

Attracting calling birds

Because calling birds are in such great abundance in the United States, it doesn’t take much to get them into your backyard. You can attract calling birds to your yard by providing a safe environment that is protected from the elements for the birds. You can put up a covered or semi-covered bird feeder as well as a bird house.

Calling birds like to spend time in places that are full of trees, shrubs and vines. They will eat a variety of seeds and berries. You can put seed in the feeder and put the feeder near bushes or trees that bear fruit.

Record your own calls

Calling birds are pleasant to listen to, but because they are migratory birds, they're not around at all times of the year. If you really enjoy the sound of the calling birds that have taken up in your backyard, you can record the sounds that they make.

To record calling bird sounds, you only need a few pieces of equipment. You need to have a tape recorder. These days tape recorders are relatively small and surprisingly durable. A good tape recorder will pick up more than just the bird sounds so you will also need to get a microphone. Placing a microphone close to the calling birds and leaving it there will negate some of the background noise that might otherwise be picked up.