A sound often as deep as its coal-black plumage that seems to resonate vast distances across the wild and empty spaces this bird so often calls home.

Its call is not the simple 'caw' of its cousin, the crow. The raven possesses a vocal repertoire of astonishing complexity, including clicking, rattling, whistling and mimicry of other animals.

One of the most familiar sounds in our gardens and parklands - and often quite loud, not a gentle melody - is the chattering and harse 'kak-kak-kak' of a magpie raising the alarm.

They also have a soft, warbling sometimes described as a 'whisper song'.

Described by Sir David Attenborough as "one of the true voices of the British countryside" and "the sound of an ancient village", their call is a low slightly rough and almost grating 'kaaa kaaa!' 

But these are social birds and their individual calls are followed by a chorus from the rest of the colony.

Whistles, clicks, rattles. Sometimes described as a loud chattering or warbling.

Starlings are also mimics and can imitate other birds, as well as human speech and common noises like sirens and phone ringtones!

The instantly recognisable deep resonant 'coo coo'. 

A varied warbling with high-pitched short fast and melodious phrases sometimes described as wistful.

Their most recognisable call is a 'zit zit' sound with a series of loud clear 'assertive and emphatic' phrases. Their varied phrases can also include mimicry of other birds and sounds.

A complex series of recognisable sounds including a two-syllable phrase sometimes described as like a squeaky bike pump.

They also produce more elaborate songs with 'sea-sawing' between notes.

A loud, high-pitched musical burst of notes, sometimes described as a series of whistles and ringing trills, often with a soft rolling rattle at the end.

A House Sparrow sings a simple series of chirps or cheeps, while the Song Sparrow produces a more complex song with a variety of phrases, often ending in a buzz or trill.