25 Birds that Honk (A to Z List with Pictures)

Birds that Honk

Examples of birds that honk include bar-headed goose, barn owl, barnacle goose, barred owl, and brant goose.

There are many different types of birds in the world that make a wide variety of noises. Some birds, like crows and hawks, make loud calls that can be heard from far away. Others, like chickadees and titmice, have soft songs that can only be heard up close. And then there are the birds that make a honk sound.

Let us take a closer look at some of the different types of birds that make a honking sound.

Examples of Birds that Honk

1. Bar-Headed Goose

Scientific NameAnser indicus
Type of AnimalBird
RangeAfghanistan, Bangladesh Bhutan, China, India; Mongolia; Myanmar; Nepal; Pakistan; Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam

The Bar-Headed Goose is a goose that honks. It is native to Asia and can be found in countries like India, Nepal, and Tibet.

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2. Barn Owl

Scientific NameTyto alba
Type of AnimalBird
RangeNorth America, South America, Europe, Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and Australia

The barn owl is a medium-sized owl with a round head and no ear tufts. They are mostly brown or gray in color with some white markings on their belly. Barn owls can be found in many different habitats including forests, meadows, and even urban areas. They make a loud, honking sound among other sounds

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3. Barnacle Goose

Scientific NameBranta leucopsis
Type of AnimalBird
RangeArctic coasts from northeastern Greenland east to Siberia, and wintering in northwestern Europe

The barnacle goose is a type of waterfowl that is found in the northern hemisphere. These birds are named for their habit of nesting on cliffs, which makes them look like barnacles. Barnacle geese honk to communicate with other members of their flock.

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4. Barred Owl

Scientific NameStrix varia
Type of AnimalBird
Rangesouthwestern Canada, Washington, Oregon, and northern California

The barred owl is a large owl that is found in wooded areas of North America. It has a brown body with white streaks on its chest and belly. Its call sounds like “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all”.

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5. Brant Goose

Scientific NameBranta bernicla
Type of AnimalBird
Rangethe Arctic

The Brant Goose is a small, stocky bird that is mostly black with a white belly. It has a short neck and a small head. The Brant Goose honks when it flies, and it also makes a grunting sound when it is feeding.

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6. Cackling Goose

Scientific NameBranta hutchinsii
Type of AnimalBird
Rangeremote northern Canada and Alaska

The cackling goose is a small goose that is closely related to the Canada goose. These birds are found in North America and they make a honking sound that is similar to a laugh.

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7. Canada Goose

Scientific NameBranta canadensis
Type of AnimalBird
Rangethroughout North America, from the Arctic to Northern Mexico

The Canada Goose is a large bird that is found in North America. It has a black head and neck, and a white chin. The body is mostly brown with a white belly. The wings are long and broad, and the tail is short and triangular. The legs are pink. Canada Geese honk when they fly in formation, or when they are communicating with other geese.

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8. Crows

Scientific NameCorvus
Type of AnimalBird
Rangearound open areas near patches of woods, or in human-modified landscapes like city parks, garbage dumps, campgrounds, manicured lawns, athletic fields, cemeteries, and parking lots

All crows make a cawing sound, but the American crow has a particularly loud and harsh call. Crows are social birds, and they use their calls to communicate with each other. When a crow hears another crow make a call, it will often respond with a honking sound.

9. Domestic Swan Goose

Scientific NameAnser cygnoides
Type of AnimalBird
Rangeeastern Eurasia

The domestic swan goose is a large bird that is native to Europe and Asia. It has a long neck and body with black and white plumage. The domestic swan goose is often kept as a pet or used for decoration in parks and gardens. It is also known to be one of the loudest birds, with a call that can reach up to 88 decibels.

10. Ducks

Scientific NameAnatidae
Type of AnimalBird
Rangeplaces where there is water like ponds, streams, and rivers

Ducks are a type of bird that is known for their quack. However, not all ducks make this sound. In fact, many ducks actually honk. The male duck makes a loud honking noise to attract a mate and to warn other males away from his territory.

11. Emperor Goose

Scientific NameAnser canagicus
Type of AnimalBird
RangeMost of the population nests in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, with some nesting in eastern Russia

The emperor goose is a large bird that can be found in the Arctic regions of North America and Asia. It has a black head and neck, a white body, and black wings. The emperor goose is known for its loud honking call, which can be heard from up to two miles away.

12. Great Horned Owl

Scientific NameBubo virginianus
Type of AnimalBird
Rangepractically all habitats in North America, from swamps to deserts to northern coniferous forests near treeline

The great horned owl is a large owl that can be found in North and South America. It has a wide range of vocalizations, but its most famous call is a deep, resonant hoot that sounds like “hoo-hoo-hooooo”.

13. Greater White-Fronted Goose

Scientific NameAnser albifrons
Type of AnimalBird
Rangeacross the Northern Hemisphere and in North America is found mainly west of the Mississippi

The Greater White-Fronted Goose is a type of waterfowl that is found in the northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia. This goose gets its name from the white patch of feathers that extends from its forehead to its bill. The Greater White-Fronted Goose is also known for its loud honking call.

14. Greylag Goose

Scientific NameAnser anser
Type of AnimalBird
RangeIceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Baltic States, northern Russia, Poland, eastern Hungary, and Romania

The greylag goose is a large bird that can be found in Europe and Asia. It has a long neck and a black bill. Its legs are pinkish-orange. The greylag goose makes a loud honking sound.

15. Lesser White-Fronted Goose

Scientific NameAnser erythropus
Type of AnimalBird
Rangenorthern Norway and overwinter in Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey.

The lesser white-fronted goose is a type of waterfowl that can be found in Europe and Asia. This bird gets its name from the white patches of feathers on its face. The lesser white-fronted goose makes a honking sound that is used to communicate with other members of its flock.

16. Nene (Bird)

Scientific NameBranta sandvicensis
Type of AnimalBird
Rangeon the islands of Oahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, Molokai, and Hawaiʻi

These birds are easily recognizable by their black and white plumage. They have long necks and short tails. Nenes are usually about two feet long and weigh around four pounds.

These birds are known for their loud honking call. Nenes will often make this sound when they are mating or when they are trying to warn other birds of danger.

17. Pink-Footed Goose

Scientific NameAnser brachyrhynchus
Type of AnimalBird
RangeGreenland and Iceland

The Pink-footed Goose is a waterfowl that can be found in Europe and parts of Asia. It has a pinkish-brown body with a white belly and black wings. Its most distinctive feature is its long, pink bill. The Pink-footed Goose honks to communicate with other members of its group and if they spot danger.

18. Ravens

Scientific NameCorvus corax
Type of AnimalBird
Rangeopen and forest habitats across western and northern North America

Ravens are large, black birds that are known for their loud, deep calls. They are often seen in pairs or small groups, and they make a wide variety of noises, including a honking sound.

19. Red-Breasted Goose

Scientific NameBranta ruficollis
Type of AnimalBird
RangeGrasslands, Wetlands, Marine Coastal/Supratidal and Artificial/Terrestrial

The red-breasted goose is a waterfowl that is found in Europe and Asia. It has a black head, neck, and tail, with a white chest and belly. The wings are dark with white stripes. The bill is orange-red, and the legs are grey. This bird honks when it is flying.

20. Ross’s Goose

Scientific NameChen rossii
Type of AnimalBird
RangeCanada

The Ross’s Goose is a small goose that breeds in the Arctic tundra. It has a black head and neck, with a white face and cheeks. The Ross’s Goose is named for its distinctive honking call, which sounds like a trumpet.

21. Snow Goose

Scientific NameAnser caerulescens
Type of AnimalBird
RangeArctic and subarctic regions of North America and Russia

The Snow Goose is a type of goose that honks. It is all white with black wingtips. Snow Geese are usually found in cold climates like Canada and Alaska.

22. Swan Goose

Scientific NameAnser caerulescens
Type of AnimalBird
Rangeinland Mongolia, northernmost China, and the Russian Far East

The swan goose is a large bird that can be found in parts of Asia and Europe. It has a long neck and a white body with black wings. This bird is known for its loud honking sound which it uses to communicate with other swans.

23. Taiga Bean Goose

Scientific NameAnser fabalis
Type of AnimalBird
Rangeacross Eurasia from Norway to Siberia, and winters south to southern Europe and China

The Taiga Bean Goose is a type of goose that honks. It is a large bird, with a body length of about 3 feet. The Taiga Bean Goose has a black head and neck, and a white belly. It can be found in the taiga, which is a forest biome found in northern Eurasia and North America.

24. Tawny Owl

Scientific NameStrix aluco
Type of AnimalBird
Rangewoodlands across much of Eurasia and North Africa

The tawny owl is a small to medium-sized owl with dark brown or black plumage. Its most distinguishing feature is its call, which is a series of deep, throaty hoots.

25. Tula Fighting Goose

Scientific NameAnser anser
Type of AnimalBird
Rangecentral Volga Vyatskii area in Russia, southeast of Moscow

The Tula fighting goose is a species of goose that is native to the United States. These birds are known for their loud and aggressive calls, which they use to warn other geese of potential danger.

Conclusion

Birds that honk are typically ducks, geese, or swans. These birds make a loud, guttural sound that can be heard from far away. Honking is generally used as a way to communicate with other birds of the same species. It can also be used to warn predators or other animals to stay away.

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