LLAMA BEHAVIOR SOUNDS

The clucking sound which llamas make sound similar to a person clicking their tongue from the roof of their mouth to the bottom of their mouth. The sound is not as sharp and is a little more resonant and nasal then clicking the tongue. Llamas don't make this sound often and also when they do this they hold their ears back. Some will cluck quite often while others will never cluck they seem to cluck when they meet new llamas or when they are flirting with the opposite sex. The young females who have not had a cria may cluck at the crias they come in contact with.

ORGLING Click here to hear sound (requires Real Audio Player)

An ogle sound is similar to someone gargling. Male Llamas will ogle when they are aroused or when they are breeding a female. The male will make this sound when he approaches a female for breeding and will continue until the copulation is complete. This can last from anywhere to 20 minutes to one hour. The males do not show any signs of discomfort during or after ogling for so long.

ALARM CALL  Click here to hear sound (requires Real Audio Player)

Llamas will make an alarm call if they feel threatened or startled by something, which concerns them. This is a loud high pitched, rhythmic sound. It sounds like an engine trying to start or a turkey call; it is really very difficult to describe. When you here the alarm call it is very startling and distinctive and you will recognize it if you here it.

In the wild, llamas traveled in herds. When one of them spied a predator they would make an alarm call to warn others, and this still holds true. If      your llamas are making an alarm call, go investigate. Maybe what they are seeing may not be a threat, but they are seeing something.

HUMMING  Click here to hear sound (requires Real Audio Player)

Many owners thought that llamas hummed because they were happy or content, but it is really quite the opposite. They hum for many different reasons some being, when they are tired, distraught, hot, uncomfortable, curious, worry or when the mothers greet their new baby. The same hum is not used to express the same things.

When they are overheated or uncomfortable the sound is similar to a groan. It is a softer sound, it is not very forceful but more drawn out.   As the llama becomes more uncomfortable the hum could get more forceful and will become more insistent.

The llama will give a shorter higher pitched hum if they are curious and it will get higher where it will sound to you like they are asking you a question. This happens when they see some thing new or a new llama, or if you are in the barn doing something different.

When they are worried or distraught from being left alone too much or weaning will produce another type of hum. This will be a higher pitched sound, longer and can be quite forceful. It is often a louder hum because it is produced with a lot of force. There will be a worried or panic tone to this one that is why this sound is different.

A mother communicating with her new cria is the last one. This one is a smooth pitched and is of a moderate sound. It will be mellower and more relaxed or it can be more excited. This is caused by the personality of the dam. She does this sound to greet her cria, and to reassure it and to create a new bond.

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