A sound made by a bird, or a device that imitates bird sounds to attract birds or other creatures.
Compound formed from 'bird' and 'call,' originating as a simple descriptive term for natural bird vocalizations. The device meaning emerged in the 19th century when people invented mechanical and wooden tools to mimic bird sounds for hunting or birdwatching.
Birdcalls are a form of deception that's stood the test of time—hunters have used them for thousands of years, but today birdwatchers use the exact same technique to attract birds for observation, showing how the same tool can serve completely opposite purposes depending on intent.
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