The song is characteristically monotonous and rhythmic, a sustained string of repeated, somewhat rough phrases often rendered as "tjerr-tjerr-tjiri-tjiri-tjerr". It is delivered at a steady, almost leisurely tempo, which clearly distinguishes it from the more varied and improvising song of several of its relatives. The contact call is a short, hard "tjeck". The song is heard both by day and during the light hours at dawn and dusk.