Animals and the sounds they make

Educational and Fun Activities


Written by Alexandra Stone

07 March 2024

🕓 3 min

From the chirping of birds at dawn to the roar of a lion, animals fill our world with a rich variety of sounds. These sounds serve many purposes, from communication and warning signals to attracting mates or marking territory. But how do animals create these sounds, and what can we learn from them?

1. Why Do Animals Make Sounds?


Animals use sound as one of their primary means of communication. While the purpose of these sounds can vary, they often serve to:

  • Attract mates: Birds, frogs, and many other animals use distinctive calls to attract a mate, signalling their fitness or readiness to breed.
  • Warn others: Many animals use sounds to signal danger. A monkey might scream to warn its troop of an approaching predator, while a rattlesnake shakes its tail to ward off threats.
  • Establish territory: Some animals use sound to mark their territory and ward off rivals. For instance, lions roar to let other lions know that an area is theirs.
  • Locate each other: Dolphins and whales use complex sound patterns, like echolocation, to find their family members and navigate through the ocean.

If you’re curious about the technical side of sound, check out our post What is Audio Frequency? to learn more about how different animals use frequency to communicate.

2. How Animals Create Sound


Different animals have evolved various ways of producing sound. Here are a few examples:

  • Birds: Birds are well known for their ability to create melodious songs. They use their syrinx, a specialised vocal organ located at the base of their trachea, to produce a wide range of sounds. Birdsong can vary from simple chirps to complex melodies.
  • Insects: Insects like crickets create sound by rubbing their wings together in a process called stridulation. Each species of cricket has a unique song, which they use to attract mates and communicate with others.
  • Mammals: Many mammals use their vocal cords to produce sound, much like humans. Lions roar, dogs bark, and bats use high-pitched squeaks to locate prey through echolocation.
  • Marine animals: Whales and dolphins use vocalisations and clicks to communicate across long distances in the ocean. Their sound travels far underwater, helping them stay in contact with their pods or navigate.

To explore more animal sound-making techniques, read our blog What are Ultrasonics?, where we dive into the high-pitched world of animals like bats and dolphins.

3. Fun Activity: Animal Sound Game


Here’s a fun and educational game for children to help them learn more about animal sounds:

  • Materials: Use a phone or computer to play different animal sounds (you can find soundtracks online or on animal apps).
  • Action: Play a sound and ask your child to guess which animal it belongs to. You can start with common animals like cats, dogs, or birds, and then move on to more exotic creatures like dolphins or lions.

This activity encourages kids to listen carefully and appreciate the unique sounds that different animals make!

For more engaging activities, visit How Sound Waves Can Be Fun for Primary School Children for experiments that make learning about sound fun and interactive.lphins, underwater vocalizations serve as vital tools for navigation, communication, and foraging in the vast ocean depths.

4. The Impact of Animal Sounds on Ecosystems


Animal sounds do more than just fill the air—they also play a vital role in maintaining the balance of ecosystems. For example, predators use sounds to hunt their prey, while prey animals listen for the sounds of approaching danger. Birds singing at dawn help maintain the rhythm of nature, signalling the start of the day for many animals.

In some cases, animals that rely heavily on sound, like whales or bats, are at risk from noise pollution, which can interfere with their ability to communicate or navigate. Human-made sounds, like traffic or industrial noise, can mask the natural sounds animals rely on.

If you’re interested in how sound impacts not just animals but human health, check out Understanding the Impact of Sound on Human Health.

Final Thoughts

The sounds animals make are an essential part of their communication and survival. From birds singing to attract mates to dolphins clicking to navigate through the ocean, animal sounds enrich the world around us. Teaching children about these sounds is not only fun but also a great way to introduce them to the wonders of nature and science.

If your child loves learning about the natural world, why not sign them up for our Science of Sound holiday camps? They’ll get hands-on experience with the science of sound and discover more about how animals, nature, and technology all connect. Learn more about our camps here.

The Best Science-Themed Books for Kids to Inspire Curiosity
5 Easy Science Experiments You Can Try at Home with Kids
Where to Find Free or Affordable Holiday Activities in Croydon

We use cookies to allow us to better understand how the site is used. By continuing to use this site, you consent to this policy. Click to learn more

The Science of Sound