The Dakotas are home to a variety of avian species and visitors each year, providing an eclectic soundtrack to the potholes and grasslands. Each species performs a distinct addition to the prairie chorus, however, with all things, some contributions shine above them all. In my opinion, the following are without question the top 5 bird calls of the Dakotas! 

Coming in at Number 5 this first species on the list is probably the most infrequent visitor to the region. The Common Loon’s iconic wails, yodels, and tremolos are often associated with the north country of Minnesota. Though occurring about as frequently as the northern lights, Common Loons are not that uncommon anymore on our far eastern Dakota lakes. At your next summer barbecue, if you are willing to turn off the lakeside country music for 15 minutes at twilight, you might be graced by a memorable tune.

Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks once said that “thunder only happens when it raining”. Well, enthusiasts of the Wild Turkey know that “spring thunder” is only dampened by the rain. The gobble of the wild turkey is the Number 4 top bird call of the Dakotas. The signature call of the Tom turkey means the cool, brown “mud season” that follows the winter thaw has given way to green grass and sunshine. For my money, the best way to experience spring thunder is to sneak in about 100 yards from a known roost tree in the stillness of the pre-dawn hours and listen to them squabble back and forth until they fly down to start their day’s activities. Tom turkeys can also be coaxed into gobbling by simply honking your car horn roadside or gobbling at them with your voice!

Now bear with me on this next exercise. Do you know those creepy lawn gnomes sitting on your neighbor’s front porch? (we all have that neighbor) Imagine they have just come to life. Now, imagine telling them the funniest joke you have ever heard. That unadulterated string of cackling you hear is the call of Number 3 on our list! The calls of the Sharptail Grouse and Greater Prairie chicken, in my opinion, are one of the most unique sounds of the prairie. Most hear this unmistakable chuckle when the prairie grouse are flushed, where humans and grouse are mutually alarmed and surprised.

Most Dakota residents at least once a year find themselves craning… their necks suddenly towards the sky at the sound of the Number 2 bird call of the Dakotas.  Sandhill Cranes often soar overhead at great distances during the fall migration, their location only given away by this unmistakable call. If you’ve ever wondered what a pterodactyl may have sounded like, the bugling call of the Sandhill Crane seems like it would be a fitting match. In my experience, the middle of October in the middle to western parts of the Dakotas is a great time to listen to this prehistoric-sounding bird.

Finally, another bird that has sent more than a few people to the chiropractor from neck-related injuries, the Number 1 bird call of the Dakotas belongs to the Wilson’s Snipe. To the uninitiated, the snipe is a real bird! Also, unlike what many were led to believe in their youths, the middle of the night is a poor time to go venturing off in hopes of catching a glimpse of this mythological figure. Snipe are best located in the morning hours of spring near a shallow well vegetated wetland. Your efforts will have you treated to what, in my opinion, is the most haunting sound of the Dakotas, the winnowing call of Wilson’s snipe. Why haunting you say? Well to me it sounds like a tiny witch or some kind of ghost thing flying around up there. Male snipes fly sometimes, hundreds of yards up in the sky making their unique calls in a flamboyant aerial display. So next time you want to mess with your kids but not completely scar them for life, take them to see a real snipe…. And then tell them it’s a small witch…