Black bird with 'ha - ha' or 'toot - toot' type call

Hello, I live in a patch of woodland in Dumfries and Galloway, close to the lowther foothills and about an hour inland.

Recently, a new bird has arrived in our woods with a call we've never heard before. It sounds like it might be better placed in a tropical jungle. The bird emits a single tone twice, followed by a pause, then the same again, and so on. 

I have one recording so far, taken on my phone out the kitchen window, so not the best quality, but you can clearly hear the call emitted 3 times with a pause between each. To me it sounds not dissimilar to a clown or bicycle horn.

I've not managed to get a good luck at the bird, but it looks dark and crow sized, although the crows don't seem to like it and keep chasing it away. 

Any help with ID'ing this would be most appreciated!

  • It sounds to me a bit like a green woodpecker - not sure though but maybe you could have a research into that

    Post Edit - the black could just be bad lighting, especially if it was seen in a wood

    Regards

    Benji

  • Thanks Benji,

    We do have a greenwood pecked in our woods too, but this one is different, less of a laugh, more simple, just two distinct tones of the same note.

    I've uploaded a recording - take a listen and see what you think:
    soundcloud.app.goo.gl/o76Pz
  • Please ignore the dog whining and tap dripping in the background! I'll try to get a better recording if possible.
  • I'm afraid the recording isn't working for me - it is blocked, so will have to leave it to have a different device

    Regards

    Benji

  • Hi Emma - i hope you don't mind but I've increased the volume on your recording and also edited out the lovely Willow Warbler so you can just hear the three separate 2-note calls.

    At first I thought from your description that it could be a Raven (they can come put with extraordinary sounds like most corvids) but it doesn't sound right - it sounds more like a goose or a car horn as you say Slight smile

  • No problem! Yes a friend thought it may be a Raven also. It seems to just make this one sound consistently though. I need to try and get a photo of it... that's the next challenge! I will update the post with an image if I manage.