The birds are making noise, a noise or noises?
Thanks.
Both are possible.
Noises - focus on the individual bird calls.
Noise - focus on the calls coming together as a group to make a large sound.
‘Making noises’ wouldn’t be used to describe birdsong. It is often used to describe unusual sounds as in - The engine in my car is making strange noises I haven’t heard before - The central heating was making odd noises last night.
It might be unusual, but it is not impossible.
Then the answer should more likely be ‘make a noise’ or ‘make noise’?
It is usually uncount in which case ‘make noise’ is acceptable as in: Don’t make noise in the class/Don’t make any noise now (We could hear teachers say these in schools). But noise can also be count where we are able to hear different kinds of sound like wailing, screaming, weeping, shouting etc as well as the unusual sound mentioned by Alan. I think native users will agree with me.
He says ‘wouldn’t be used’; you say ‘might be unusual’ and ‘not impossible’ without reasoning it out. The confusion needs to be dispelled.
A quick look into the net revealed: “All birds make noises (‘bird vocalisation’), but not all sing. Vocalization is a general term encompassing all avian sounds produced by voice: song, calls, distress cries, alarm calls etc.”
“Birds make a variety of noises, including rhythmical, drawn-out songs and shorter communicative calls. Not all birds sing and not all the sounds birds make are called songs.”
“Nearly all birds make some noises.”
“What noises do birds make? How can owls be identified by their calls?”
“How do Birds make Noises?”
For the original to sound meaningful, I’d expect it a bit expanded: The birds I’ve purchased aren’t singing, just making noises.
All birds make noises, these seem to be the champions.
The noise the birds outside are making, distracts me.
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Well, yes the Net may have revealed (as it can obligingly reveal whatever suits your point)
but I still find it odd to use ‘noises’ in relation to what birds do. I would prefer ‘sounds’ when you talk of birds whether they are singing or not.