The words of birds

I recently purchased a copy of A Guide To The Birds of Puerto Rico And The Virgin Islands at Rodgers Book Barn.

I particularly enjoyed its onomatopoetic descriptions of bird noises. Here’s a random list of my favorites:

• A raspy crick-et (White-tailed Tropicbird)
• A hoarse kak (Brown Booby)
• A guttural ga-ga-ga-ga (Red-Footed Booby)
• A peculiar oong-ka-chunk! (American Bittern)
• A raspy, insect-like kay-ti-dad (Gull-Billed Tern)
• Plaintive, liquid, twittering notes (Audobon’s Shearwater)
• A raspy ke-aaar that fades away (Red-tail hawk)
• A high-pitched killi-killi-killi (American Kestrel)
• A short, emphatic bow-wow (Short-eared Owl)
• A throaty ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-ka-kaw-kow, kow, kow, kow (Yellow-billed Cuckoo)
• A very loud and conspicuous squawky whistle a-leep (Smooth-billed Ani)
• A varied assortment of gentle cooing notes (Rock Dove)
• A deep, deliberate whoo (Plain Pigeon)
• A raucous squawk (Brown-throated Parakeet)