Buzz
Our planet is home to over a million different species of animals. With such an abundance of creatures to learn about, it's no surprise that parts of the animal kingdom remain a mystery. Yet, even the most familiar animals can catch us off guard: each species has its own way of communicating, and some of your favorite animals might make sounds that are completely unexpected.
10. Cheetahs Make Chirping Sounds Like Birds
Cheetahs are the fastest land animals in the world. Once found across Africa and Asia, their population in Asia has dwindled to just a few dozen due to human interaction. Today, they are most commonly found in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Unlike other big cats (which belong to the genus Panthera), cheetahs and cougars cannot roar because they lack the two-piece thyroid bone necessary for it. Instead, cheetahs make bird-like chirps, which is fitting given their falcon-like speed. No other cat makes a similar sound.
Cheetahs are also known to communicate frequently through purring, which is thought to be facilitated by the hyoid bone in their throat. Interestingly, it was once believed that the big cats known for their roars—lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars—were unable to purr, since they lacked the same hyoid bone. However, more recent studies have shown that these roaring cats can purr—they just can’t produce any other sounds at the same time, as other cats do.
9. Basenji Dogs Don’t Bark—They Yodel
(Start the video at around 50 seconds.)
The Basenji is a breed of dog native to Central Africa, traditionally used as an adept hunter. It was first brought out of the Congo in ancient times as a gift to Egyptian pharaohs—but didn’t make its way to England or America until the mid-20th century.
The Basenji doesn’t bark due to its uniquely narrow larynx. As a result, instead of barking, the Basenji makes vocalizations that resemble yodels, often described as “baroos” or howls.
Hunters likely intentionally favored the Basenji’s lack of barking, as barks could have disrupted a hunt by alerting competing hunters or scaring off potential prey.
Basenjis are renowned for their sharp intelligence, but also for their stubbornness and playful mischief. These curious dogs are likely to munch on anything you leave unattended or even squeeze through a fence to explore the neighborhood. While they can learn commands, don’t be surprised if they decide to ignore them.
8. Brushtail Possums Sound Like A Chainsaw Running Out of Gas
Brushtail possums are marsupials found widely across Australia, and also in New Zealand after their introduction there. These opportunistic omnivores are known to feast on people’s gardens, and they’ve even been caught raiding birds’ nests for eggs.
When a possum is trying to intimidate or fend off a threat, it emits a noise similar to a chainsaw or a car sputtering out of fuel. Much like the barn owl, it might also unleash a terrifying screech for the same reason.
Possum fur is incredibly lightweight yet surprisingly warm, similar to the fur of polar bears, with a silky texture akin to mink. Indigenous Australians used possum fur to craft effective, insulating clothing. When Europeans arrived in Australia, they saw great potential in exploiting possums for the fur trade. In fact, this was the primary reason they were introduced to New Zealand, where they caused significant disruption to native species.
7. Elephants Communicate With a Low Growl-Like Rumble
In addition to trumpeting, elephants are known for their rumbling sounds. This rumbling, which resembles a low growl, is actually their primary means of communication. The rumble is produced by a vibrating sound in the throat.
Rumbling helps elephants maintain order within their herds; for example, when leaving a watering hole, elephants rumble to reorganize their social structure (females lead the group; adult males live apart). Elephants also rumble to signal to other herds that it's their turn to use the watering hole. Some rumbles have even been used to organize the herd in rescuing a drowning calf.
Rumbles can travel over long distances, sometimes covering several kilometers (this is how males know when it's mating season). Some of these rumbles are so low-frequency that only elephants can hear them.
All elephant species communicate through rumbling sounds. Interestingly, the baby elephant noises were the key component of the T. Rex’s roar in the 1993 film Jurassic Park.
6. Barn Owls Skip Hooting and Opt for Shrill Screeches
The blood-curdling shriek of the barn owl is nothing like the traditional hoot. Found on every continent except Antarctica, the barn owl already has an eerie appearance, and its terrifying scream only adds to its horror movie-like presence.
The barn owl’s shrieks typically last about two seconds and are repeated occasionally. Males screech to attract females to inspect their nests or to ward off potential threats. Females, who screech much less frequently, usually do so to beg for food from their mates.
Barn owls are named after their preference for roosting in barns or abandoned buildings. Before barns were widespread, barn owls could be found nesting in tree cavities of American sycamores, silver maples, and white oaks. They hatch chicks twice a year, and both parents share the responsibility of raising their young.
Barn owl chicks may also hiss to intimidate intruders, and this hiss is just as frightening as the adults’ terrifying shriek.
5. Guinea Pigs Make Sounds Like a Noisy Tube Toy
Do you remember the tube toy from the ’90s that produced strange sounds when flipped? (We couldn’t find an official name for it.)
Guinea pigs are surprisingly vocal and make a sound similar to that tube toy. This sound, called “wheeking,” typically expresses excitement, anticipation, or hunger. They also produce similar noises when feeling negative emotions—like anger, fear, or aggression—though these are often accompanied by teeth chattering.
Guinea pigs originated in South America, where they were once used as a food source. Also known as “cavies,” guinea pigs are rodents, and they are not related to pigs at all. The name “Guinea” may either refer to Guiana, part of their native South American range, or Guinea, an African country they were traded to. Alternatively, they might have been the most affordable meat alternative to pork the British could buy for one guinea—an old British coin worth around £1.
4. Elk Sound Like Hunting Bugles
Elk, the larger relatives of deer, are native to North America and eastern Asia, typically residing in mountainous regions. In the United States, they are mainly found in the west, though they were once distributed across the entire country. Also known as wapiti (a Native American term meaning 'light-colored deer'), elk can reach heights of 2.7 meters (9 feet), including their antlers.
Breeding season begins at the close of summer, a period known as the “rut,” during which male elk engage in fierce competition for females. A signature feature of the rut is the males' passionate “bugle”—a melodic, eerie call that begins low and ascends into a loud squeal-scream before dropping into a series of grunting sounds.
Elk bugling continues from dusk till dawn, from September to October. This gives the males ample opportunity to gather a large group of females—and to disrupt the peace of every other forest creature.
3. The Red Fox Lets Out a Bloodcurdling Scream
(Start the video at around 30 seconds.)
The red fox, the largest of all fox species, is one of the most successful mammals on the planet. Thanks to its resourcefulness and adaptability, it has managed to inhabit four continents. In fact, it holds the widest range of any member of the order Carnivora (though, in reality, they are omnivores). Despite their widespread presence, foxes tend to be rather elusive creatures.
With their bushy tails and slender forms, red foxes might appear feline in shape, but they are actually canids, closely related to dogs and wolves.
As Ylvis can attest to, foxes aren’t generally considered to be particularly vocal. While they do communicate using their tails and scent, they can also produce a loud, high-pitched bark that sounds like a scream. This noise is usually heard during mating season or when conflicts arise. Additionally, foxes “gekker” when fighting.
And now you finally know what the fox really says!
2. Northern Mockingbirds Imitate . . . Everything
Mockingbirds are passionate singers, and they don’t limit themselves to just one style.
Found throughout the New World, mockingbirds are year-round residents in places like Mexico, the US, the Bahamas, the Galapagos, Cuba, and other islands in the Caribbean. While there are several subspecies, the most widespread is the Northern mockingbird.
Much like the lyre bird, the aptly-named mockingbird masters the songs of many different birds (and even frogs), recreating their melodies for all to hear. They never stop learning new songs throughout their lives. Each imitation lasts about 20 seconds before they move on to another tune.
Both male and female mockingbirds sing, and they’re known for singing all day long. If you hear one at night, it’s likely a male desperately trying to attract a mate. If you find it irritating, just remember—it’s a crime to harm a mockingbird.
1. Maned Wolves Use a “Roar-Bark” to Intimidate
Imagine merging the roar of a lion with the bark of a Rottweiler—this combination creates the roar-bark of the maned wolf.
Although considered “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the maned wolf is found widely across South America, from Bolivia and Paraguay to Argentina, Peru, and Brazil, as well as in zoos globally. Despite being a canid, it isn’t technically a wolf, as it belongs to its own unique genus, Chrysocyon. Resembling foxes on long legs, maned wolves hunt solo.
The maned wolf’s roar-bark is striking, but the primary way they communicate is through scent: Their urine can be detected over a kilometer (1 mi) away and carries messages of warning, sexual interest, or health status. Unlike other canids, maned wolves don’t howl or bay, but they growl when threatened and whine as a greeting.
