Any insects make a bird like Noise?

[christinabocelli]

Hi all have ben positing on the bird forum am new to this forum but will see if anyone here can help. About 10 days ago I came home late one night and in my downstairs cloakroom could hear a bird chirping. I had a look and realised it was coming from within the cavity of the wall and sounded trapped. In the morning all was quiet. However, since then every night at around 9 p.m. we hear this same almost frantic constant chirping and it is only one bird but has somehow managed to move from one room into another within the floor spaces and wall cavities. All is quiet in the daytime but it is almost like clockwork and it will call all night until anout 7 in the morning. The sound is a sharp one note call and gets quicker and quicker and is quite loud. If this bird was trapped then I cannot understand how it can survive with no food or water. It is freaking me out a bit as I am wondering if it could be something else like an animal although it definitely sounds like a bird. I cannot hear any fluttering and it seems to stay in one position all night but then move the next night. I know this sound a bit silly, but are there any insects that make a quite load chirping noise like a bird? Any help would be appreciated - Christina

[Acutipuerilis]

Sounds like it would be very unnerving! However, it's almost certainly a cricket, from your description. There was another thread recently about a cricket or cicada in a garden that was making a very loud chirping noise, and the conclusion was probably an escaped insect that had been bought for feeding pet lizards etc. Do you know anyone nearby with exotic pets?

[christinabocelli]

Thanks for your response - I'm now thinking along these lines as I cannot understand why it only chirps at night and I have not heard any fluttering. It is really loud and does sound like a bird but do not know anyone who has exotic pets and as house is detached cannot think where it came from unless got in through roof or hopped in from outside. It is unnerving because the chirping is so constant and get louder and quicker as the night goes on. I cannot understand why it does not just hop out from one of its favourite places as some of the places I hear it loudest are near escape routes such as a hole between the ceiling oak beam and the ceiling cavity. I have heard crickets outside but they have never sounded loud and pitched like this. If it is a cricket and it has no mate, how long is it likely to survive as is driving me mad!!!!!

[Geoff F]

Each species of cricket, or grasshopper, makes its own 'song' which can vary between a soft hum and a loud 'rattle'.

Just checking through my book I find descriptions ranging from soft ticking, fast sewing machine, winding of a clock, purring, free wheeling bicycle, a loud psst sound, knife grinder, and one (Roesel's Bush Cricket) which is claimed to resemble one of those old dentist's drills. Haven't heard that one myself but that must sound really frightening if you can remember those drills.

And in certain places you can get natural amplification.

Most only sing in the evening/night. I haven't heard one around my garden for several years but at one time there must have been considerable numbers because the combined noise was almost deafening every night in the autumn.

As the months go by they will become increasingly desperate to find a mate.

[Ferret]

Does it sound like this? JungleWalk - Links to thousands of animal multimedia sitesif so it’s a House Cricket probably from the pet trade as I don't think they are native to the UK but they can certainly live outside during our summers.

Ferret

Sorry but the link only seems to take me to the site and not the sound file, but if you scroll down to the Insect section you will find it.

[christinabocelli]

Since I last posted, my little visitor has revealed himself and is indeed a cricket! I could not believe that this little thing could make such a loud bird-like noise. He popped into my bathroom the other night from a little opening in the wall where the pipes go through and is brown. I listened to the sound recordings (thank you Ferret) and it does sound just like the house cricket recording and gets exremely loud and does sound like a bird. He is much quieter now but is hiding in bathroom and can still hearing him chirping but much more sporadic and not nearly so loud or frantic - if I can find him will take photo!!! Thanks!!!

[Monkey Orchid]

If it's any consolation, in China a cricket singing in the home is considered a sign of good luck and potential wealth! Crickets are often kept in small bamboo cages and displayed in the home. These auspicious insects are also celebrated in Chinese stories, poems and art.

There's more info about Chinese crickets in a short article at this Bugbios website, if you're interested:

Chinese Cricket Culture, Cultural Entomology Digest 3

[charlieb]

Any insects make a bird like Noise?

Grasshopper Warbler ... oh wait that's the wrong way round

[christinabocelli]

Thanks have looked at website and very interesting - am now going to check lottery tickets!!!