Top 10 Animals with the Best Musicality

A list about animals that can sing or at least respond adequately to music (to rhythm and melody), including dancing and headbanging. Most animals cannot respond to rhythm, but some can keep a beat. The most prominent group of singers is that of the songbirds, but this list isn't limited to them.

There are two types of animals on this list:
- Animals with natural musicality
- Animals trained to respond to music

1. Nightingale

   

2. Song Thrush

   

   Although its name explains itself, I have to add that it's an amazing singer because:

   1. It can sing two different notes at once.

   2. It can also sing rising and falling notes simultaneously.

   3. Its song ends with one of the most complex sounds a bird can create.

3. Humpback Whale

   

   The humpback whale is a species of baleen whale. One of the larger rorqual species, adults are generally about 14 to 15 meters long and can reach masses of 40 metric tons. They're known for their complex songs, acrobatic breaching behavior, and long migrations between feeding and breeding grounds.

   The male produces complex songs with structures that are strikingly similar to our own, consisting of looping sequences of "melodies" and repeating "end phrases" akin to the rhymes in song lyrics.

4. Canary

   

5. Sea Lion

   

   Sea lions are marine mammals characterized by external ear flaps, long foreflippers, the ability to walk on all fours, short thick hair, and a robust chest and belly. They belong to the family Otariidae, also known as eared seals. Sea lions are social animals often seen in large groups on coastlines... read more

   They respond to rhythm. A California female sea lion, Ronan, was trained to match her head movements to complex rhythms of music. Headbanging, baby. Her favorite song is Boogie Wonderland by Earth, Wind, and Fire.

   YT video: Beat Keeping in a California Sea Lion (Ronan)

6. Cockatoo

   

7. Northern Cardinal

   

   They can switch sides of their syrinx so they sweep through more notes than are on a piano keyboard in just a second.

8. Starling

   

   Mozart kept a starling as a pet and, according to his journals, he even taught the bird to sing the opening theme of one of his piano concertos. Also, Mozart transcribed a tune from one of his starling's songs. So, the notes of his starling's song are available.

9. Indigo Bunting

   

   They are singers. What's interesting about them is that they sing in regional dialects. Their songs have significant regional variations.

10. Warbler

    

    It really looks like it can sing in the picture.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Fox

    

    Foxes are small to medium-sized animals in the Canidae family, which also includes jackals, wolves, and domestic dogs. There are 37 species of fox, but only 12 are considered true foxes of the genus Vulpes. Foxes are omnivorous and adaptable, with diets that include small mammals, birds, reptiles, insects... read more

12. ?

    Catbird

    
The Contenders

13. Brown Thrasher

    

    A singer known for the large repertoire - over 1,000 song types.

14. Veery

    

    Oh, I've heard and seen them before. Their song is very pretty for such a plain-looking bird.

    It creates impressive flute-like vocal effects by pitch sweeps and mini-trills.

15. Lyrebird

    

    The lyrebird is the songbird with the most complex syrinx. It sings its own song elements, perfectly sings the songs of other birds, imitates the sounds of mammals, and even artificial sounds. Extraordinary.

16. Cockatiel

    

17. Human

    

    Humans (Homo sapiens) are the most abundant and widespread species of primate, characterized by habitual bipedalism and comparatively large, complex brains. These traits have enabled the development of advanced tools, culture, and language. Humans are highly social and live in complex structures, ranging... read more

    Humans are technically animals, but not all of them have the ability to sing well, I think. They're also not exactly wild animals, as you can read in the bio.

18. Bonobo

    

19. Coqui

    

20. Goat

    

    The domestic goat (Capra hircus) is a domesticated animal species that is part of the goat-antelope group. It was domesticated from the wild goat (Capra aegagrus) in regions of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. Goats belong to the family Bovidae and the tribe Caprini, making them close relatives of... read more

21. Cuckoo

    

22. Penguin

    

    Penguins (order Sphenisciformes, family Spheniscidae) are aquatic, flightless birds found almost exclusively in the Southern Hemisphere. The only species found north of the Equator is the Galápagos penguin. Penguins are highly adapted to marine life, featuring countershaded plumage and flippers for efficient... read more