Lithuanian bird-call and sound imitations
Showing: 20
Duck
Lithuanian original: Ką duosi, ką duosi? Taip taip, Taip taip. Meaning aid: What will you give? What will you give? Then: yes, yes; yes, yes.
In the source, ducks ask the question as they approach food and say the second part after eating. Try expectant and satisfied intonations.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 707, Nr. 7783; 1939, Kupiškis; LTR 2071(117) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Rooster
Lithuanian original: Kakariekū! Neturiu griekų! Meaning aid: Cock-a-doodle-doo! I have no sins!
Griekų means sins. The crow is joined to a rhyming human statement; try the same grand tone for both lines.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 710, Nr. 7810; 1923, Kruonis; LTR 3378(343) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Stork
Lithuanian original: Klė, klė, klė, Man varlė! Meaning aid: Clattering sounds, then: a frog for me!
The short klė sounds suggest bill-clattering. This human formula is not a full natural recording; compare its three short sounds with the longer ending.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 712, Nr. 7830; Tautosakos darbai, VI, 1939, p. 252 (TD) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Cuckoo
Lithuanian original: Kukū, kukū, Duos gegė taukų: Pasitepsi ratus, Važinėsi metus. Meaning aid: Cuckoo, cuckoo: the cuckoo will give you grease; grease your wheels and ride for a year.
Cuckoo sounds grow into an unlikely promise about greasing wheels. Treat it as playful invention, with a repeated opening and a storytelling ending.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 713, Nr. 7838; Surviliškis; Tautosakos darbai, VI, 1939, p. 255 (TD) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Woodpecker
Lithuanian original: Čiaku, čiaku, Viršum medžių kirsiu šaką. Meaning aid: Knocking sounds: above the trees I shall cut a branch.
Say čiaku as two short, even strokes. Kirsiu šaką gives the woodpecker’s sound the meaning of a human task.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 713, Nr. 7842; Vadokliai; Tautosakos darbai, VI, 1939, p. 257 (TD) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Crane
Lithuanian original: Gyr, gyr, jau negrįšiu, Po šaltai žiemai sugrįšiu. Meaning aid: Crane-like calls: I shall not return; after the cold winter I shall return.
The first line denies returning, then the second specifies a return after winter. Pause between them; the older po šaltai žiemai wording is retained.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 714, Nr. 7846; 1937, Marijampolė; LTR 1264(647) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Corncrake
Lithuanian original: — Krės, krės Varškės! — Kam, kam? — Vaikams. — Kokiems? — Mažiems. Meaning aid: Serve curd cheese! For whom? For children. Which children? Little ones.
The bird’s call becomes a question-and-answer exchange. Two speakers can alternate lines, preserving the short krės, krės opening.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 716, Nr. 7861; Vasaros darbai, 1912, p. 8 (VD) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Turkey
Lithuanian original: Gul, gul, gul, Suldu buldu, Gul, gul, gul. Meaning aid: Gurgling sound syllables rather than a literal sentence.
The point is the gul/buldu sound, not a hidden narrative. Try a quiet, short gurgling delivery in a comfortable voice.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 717, Nr. 7872; 1926, Tverečius; LMD I 474(1051) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Pigeon
Lithuanian original: Burkū, burkū, Pilnas aruodas grūdų. Meaning aid: Coo, coo; the grain bin is full.
An aruodas is a grain bin. The drawn-out ū in cooing links the sound to grūdų, grain; compare the two line endings.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 718, Nr. 7884; 1935, Šiauliai; LTR 542(69) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Wagtail
Lithuanian original: Paspirsiu ledą, Paspirsiu ledą Kaip niekį, Kaip niekį. Meaning aid: I shall kick the ice aside as though it were nothing.
The source places these words in the mouth of a returning wagtail finding ice. Try a determined opening and a lighter repeated ending.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 722, Nr. 7917; 1938, Raseiniai; LTR 1477(145) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Chaffinch
Lithuanian original: Lyk, lyk, lyk! Meaning aid: Rain, rain, rain!
Three identical words make a short exercise. Lyk asks rain to fall; this is a human interpretation of the sound, not a forecast.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 723, Nr. 7920; Panevėžys; Tautosakos darbai, VI, 1939, p. 264 (TD) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Swallow
Lithuanian original: Vagis, vagis! Meaning aid: Thief, thief!
The source frames this as swallows seeing a hawk. Use a brief rising alarm intonation without adding words.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 723, Nr. 7924; Ariogala; Tautosakos darbai, VI, 1939, p. 264 (TD) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Nightingale
Lithuanian original: Jurgi, Jurgi! Kinkyk, kinkyk, Vadelėk, vadelėk, Važiuok, važiuok, Plak, plak! Meaning aid: Jurgis! Harness up, hold the reins, ride, crack the whip!
The nightingale receives a sequence of travel commands. Give each pair a separate rhythmic shape; this is a reading exercise, not a sourced melody.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 739, Nr. 8046; Zarasai; LMD I 784(31) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Owl
Lithuanian original: Ok vyv, Ok vyv! Meaning aid: An owl-like sound formula without a secure literal translation.
The short record gives no exact owl species or melody. Repeat the two phrases with a pause, without inventing a literal meaning.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 745, Nr. 8083; 1913, Pušalotas; LMD I 1050(24) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Lapwing
Lithuanian original: Sveiki gyvi, vaikučiai! Meaning aid: Hello, dear children! Literally: may you be well and alive, children.
The call is heard as a greeting. Emphasise gyvi to hear its connection with shorter gyvi or klyvi forms in other variants.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 745, Nr. 8089; 1937, Marijampolė; LTR 1264(628) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Quail
Lithuanian original: Put palauk, Put palauk, Putpeliuk, palauk. Meaning aid: Put, wait; little quail, wait.
Put grows into putpeliuk while palauk repeats. Keep the first two lines short and let the longer address extend the third.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 750, Nr. 8132; 1926, Švenčionys; LMD I 474(1051) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Bullfinch
Lithuanian original: Aš maža sniegenėlė — padrykt, padrykt! Meaning aid: I am a little bullfinch: padrykt, padrykt!
The bird introduces itself in human words, followed by two sound bursts. Separate the spoken introduction from the shorter padrykt.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 752, Nr. 8143; 1937, Marijampolė; LTR 1264(657) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Hand mill
Lithuanian original: Vilniuj buvau, Vilniuj buvau. Kap tę, tep čia, Kap tę, tep čia. Meaning aid: I was in Vilnius. Then: as there, so here.
The source pairs the first part with slow grinding and the second with fast grinding. Perform the two sections at different speeds; dialect wording is retained.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 794, Nr. 8460; 1939, Marijampolė; LTR 2186(46/1–2) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Violin
Lithuanian original: Čiru, čiru, duok pipirų, Kad neduosi, nečiruosiu. Meaning aid: Fiddle sounds: give me pepper; if you do not, I will not fiddle.
Čiru generates the playful verb nečiruosiu. Try the first line as a request and the second as a bargaining condition.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 806, Nr. 8524; Vaikų skaitymėliai su Lietuvos žemėlapiu, 1905, p. 96 (VSk) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
#Boiling potatoes
Lithuanian original: Kiek vaikų, Kiek vaikų? Meaning aid: How many children? How many children?
The source attributes these words to boiling potatoes. Use a bubbling rhythm and discuss how a kitchen sound becomes a human question.
Lietuvių tautosaka, V: Smulkioji tautosaka. Žaidimai ir šokiai (1968) · Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968), p. 810, Nr. 8555; 1934, Dusetos; LTR 721(100) · Traditional folklore text; Lithuanian Copyright and Related Rights Act, Article 5(6).
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How does a sound become a word?
An imitation can be a short call such as Ok vyv or a complete human sentence. A rooster speaks about sins, a pigeon about grain, and boiling potatoes ask about children.
These are human interpretations linking sound with everyday life. They are not literal translations of bird messages or scientific descriptions of behaviour.
Voice, pauses and pace
Start with a short imitation, then try a dialogue or the two speeds of the hand-mill example. Each item offers a newly written performance suggestion.
These are verbal texts, without audio or notation. Suggested reading rhythms are not claimed as historically recorded melodies. Compare the words with a real bird sound when you have a suitable recording.
Keep the Lithuanian sound pattern
17 birds are named at the level provided by the source. A general label such as owl is not turned into a guessed biological species. Every item includes the original and an English meaning aid. English conveys the idea, not the Lithuanian rhythm, rhyme or sound resemblance.
The last three examples move into the home: millstones, violin and boiling food.
Sources and accuracy
Every example was checked against page images in Lietuvių tautosaka V (1968). Locators give the printed page, item number and earlier publication or manuscript reference listed there.
Recorded wording and regional forms are retained. Explanations are newly written; rights in anthology illustrations, scholarly prose and musical recordings are distinct from the traditional verbal text.