Spotted Catbird
Sounds & Calls
Spotted Catbirds are named for their bizarre cat-like wailing calls (some say it sounds more like a baby crying!) which are a common sound of both lowland and higher altitude rainforests within their range. This species is especially vocal at dawn and dusk. They also make a few other call types including a high-pitched ‘tick’ sound and a drawn out dry rasp.
The Green Catbird (Ailuroedus crassirostris) of south-eastern Australia is a closely-related species which makes quite similar (and perhaps even more cat-like) calls!
Listen to Spotted Catbird Calls
Spotted Catbird – Typical wailing song
XC353465 This recording features the typical cat-like wailing song. Recorded in the Atherton Tablelands, Queensland.
Spotted Catbird – High-pitched ‘tik’ calls
XC524678 This sample features the commonly heard high-pitched ‘tik’ calls. Recorded in Woonoonoran National Park, Queensland.
Spotted Catbird – Squeaky calls
XC527661 This sample features high-pitched squeaky calls. Recorded in Julatten, Queensland.
Spotted Catbird – Dry, harsh calls
XC527662 Another sound type of this species, these dry, harsh, nasal calls sound a bit like some of the calls made by Satin Bowerbird. Recorded in Julatten, Queensland.
Spotted Catbird – Variation of typical song
XC527514 This sample features a variation of the typical song along with high-pitched ‘tik’ calls. Recorded in Woonoonoran National Park, Queensland.
Spotted Catbird – Typical wailing song and ‘tik’ calls
XC526016 This recording features the typical cat-like wailing song along with some high-pitched ‘tik’ calls. Recorded at Mount Lewis, Queensland.
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Australian Bird Sounds
Other bird calls from the Australian bush:
- Bellbird, Crested
- Black Cockatoo, Red-tailed
- Black Cockatoo, Yellow-tailed
- Boobook, Australian
- Bowerbird, Golden
- Bowerbird, Satin
- Bowerbird, Spotted
- Budgerigar
- Butcherbird, Grey
- Butcherbird, Pied
- Catbird, Spotted
- Cassowary, Southern
- Chowchilla
- Cockatiel
- Cockatoo, Palm
- Cuckoo, Channel-billed
- Cuckoo, Fan-tailed
- Currawong, Black
- Currawong, Pied
- Drongo, Spangled
- Emu
- Fairywren, Superb
- Frogmouth, Marbled
- Frogmouth, Papuan
- Frogmouth, Tawny
- Fruit Dove, Wompoo
- Honeyeater, Spiny-cheeked
- Kingfisher, Sacred
- Koel, Pacific
- Kookaburra, Blue-winged
- Kookaburra, Laughing
- Lyrebird, Superb
- Magpie, Australian
- Miner, Bell
- Nightjar, Large-tailed
- Nightjar, Spotted
- Oriole, Green
- Owl, Australian Masked
- Owl, Eastern Barn
- Owl, Powerful
- Owl, Barking
- Owl, Lesser Sooty
- Owl, Greater Sooty
- Owlet-nightjar, Australian
- Parrot, Eclectus
- Pitta, Noisy
- Rosella, Crimson
- Shrikethrush, Grey
- Songlark, Rufous
- Wagtail, Willie
- Whipbird, Eastern
- Whistler, Australian Golden
- Whistler, Rufous
Spotted Catbird vintage painting by William Matthew Hart c.1875