(Translated by https://www.hiragana.jp/)
Llamapaedia: Behavior: Sounds
The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20061015040744/http://www.llamapaedia.com/behavior/sounds.html

Llama Sounds

Compared to many other livestock, llamas are very quiet animals. Humming is their primary means of vocal expression. A llama's hum sounds similar to a person's hum. Depending upon the situation, llamas may also cluck, orgle or make an alarm call. All sounds are very distinctive and easily recognizable. It will be clear what llamas are trying to express if you look at their situation and listen.

Llamas are herd animals and are excellent at communicating with each other. They are so good at it that many of their subtle cues may be missed by an unaware eye. Take the time to watch and listen to your llamas to learn a little bit of their language. We expect them to understand what we want from them, it is only fair that we return the favor.

Humming

Humming, being their predominant vocalization, has the most subtle variations. Llamas are often thought to hum when they are happy and content, but it is really quite the opposite. Llamas hum when there is a disruption from their normal, relaxed, worry-free state. They will hum when they are tired, distraught, curious, hot, uncomfortable, worried and when mothers greet their new baby. The same hum is not used to express all these different states.

When they are hot, tired or uncomfortable, the hum sounds similar to a groan. The sound is softer, drawn out and not very forceful. The pitch may lower towards the end of the hum. It could also get a bit more forceful and drawn out as the llama gets more uncomfortable and becomes more insistent. A mildly uncomfortable llama humming softly, but not very drawn out. (66k) 

When llamas are curious, they give a shorter duration higher pitched hum. The pitch will get higher over the course of the hum and it sounds like they are asking a question. They may hum this way when they notice something new, see a new llama or are curious what you are doing in the barn/field.

Llamas who are distraught or worried, usually from being left alone or weaning, produce another type of hum. This hum is higher pitched, but of longer duration and quite forceful. Because it is produced with a lot of force, it is often one of the louder hums. There is a worried, panicked tone to the hum which makes it distinct from the others.

The last type of hum is produced by a mother communicating with her new cria. The hum is smooth, medium pitched and of moderate duration. It can sound very mellow and relaxed or more excited depending on the personality of the dam. It is done to greet the cria, reassure it and begin creating a bond.

Clucking

Clucking is another sound which llamas may make. It sounds similar to a person clicking their tongue from the roof of their mouth to the bottom of their mouth. The sound is less sharp and a little more resonant and nasal than clicking a tongue. Llamas do not make this sound often and are holding their ears back when they do. Some llamas will cluck quite often and others will never cluck. They seem to cluck when meeting new llamas or flirting with the opposite sex. Young female llamas who have not yet had a cria may cluck at the crias they come into contact with.

Orgling

Male llamas will orgle when aroused or while breeding a female. An orgle sounds similar to someone gargling. It is just a little more forceful and has a bit of a buzzing tone throughout. The male will make this sound while approaching a female for breeding and will continue until copulation is complete. This can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 1 hour. The males do not show any signs of discomfort during or after orgling for so long. This is a llama Orgle. (63k) 

Alarm Call

If llamas feel threatened or startled by something which concerns them, they will make an alarm call. It is a loud, higher pitched, rhythmic sound. It is difficult to describe, but it sounds like a cross between an engine trying to start and a turkey call (I know that is hard to imagine). The alarm call is startling and distinctive and you will recognize it if you hear it. This is a llama Alarm Call (31k)

In the wild, llamas travelled in herds. When one of them spied a predator, he/she would make an alarm call to warn others. This still holds true. If llamas are making an alarm call, go investigate. What they are seeing may not be a true threat, but they are seeing something.

Last updated September 2,1997

Return to Behavior