what noise does a penguin make

Penguins don’t make just one “noise” – they have a whole little sound library: chirps, trills, growls, honks, brays, and even hisses, depending on the species and situation.

Quick Scoop: What noise does a penguin make?

If you had to sum it up in one playful line:
Penguins sound like a mix of chirping birds , honking geese , and, in some species, a braying donkey.

Common penguin sounds

Chirps and peeps – short, high-pitched notes, often between parents and chicks or between partners.

Trills – rolling, continuous calls, kind of like a bird “song.”

Growls – low, rough sounds used in squabbles or when defending space.

Honks and trumpets – louder, carrying calls used to find mates or family in a noisy colony.

Brays – African penguins famously make a call that sounds like a donkey braying.

Hisses – some species, like Gentoo penguins, hiss when threatened or protecting their nest.

Do different penguins make different noises?

Yes – species have their own “accents” and call types.

Emperor penguins: deep, trumpeting calls.
Adélie penguins: high-pitched peeps and chirps.
African penguins: loud donkey-like brays.
Chinstrap penguins: croaks, chirps, and rough, frog-like sounds.
Gentoo penguins: softer whistles and occasional hissing when defensive.

Why do penguins make these sounds?

Penguin colonies are crowded and noisy, so sound is how they keep life organized.

Finding partners and chicks
Defending territory or nests
Warning others about threats
“Talking” socially – reinforcing bonds within the colony

If you’re imagining the sound…

Think of:

A loud, slightly comical honk or bray for many adult calls.
Tiny, high “peep-peep-peep” sounds for chicks.
Occasional low growls or hissy bursts when someone gets too close.

So if someone asks “What noise does a penguin make?”, the fun answer is:
“Anything from cute chirps to donkey-style brays – it depends on the penguin.” 🐧

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.