Is こんこん onomatopoeia for foxes?

Question

I mentioned こんこん to a native speaker, and he hadn't heard it before.

Is こんこん the standard onomatopoeia for foxes? If not, what does the fox say?

Answer 1

「こんこん」 is just about the only onomatopoeia for a fox's cry. It is difficult to believe what your native speaker friend(?) has told you. I honestly do not even know of an alternative onomatopoeia for that.

In fact, 「こんこん」 can even mean a "fox" itself just like 「わんわん」 can mean a "dog" when speaking to toddlers.

See what デジタル大辞泉{だいじせん} says.

［副］

１ せきをするときの声を表す語。

２ 狐{きつね}の鳴{な}き声{ごえ}を表{あらわ}す語{ご}。

３ 固い物が軽く打ち当たったときに発する音を表す語。「扉をこんこん（と）ノックする」

４ 雪や雨などがさかんに降るさま。

［名］狐のこと。

My own TL of the above:

[Adverb]:

1. Onomatopoeia for coughing

2. Onomatopoeia for a fox's cry

3. Knocking sound

4. Onomatopoeia for heavy snow or rain

[Noun]: A fox.

Here is a famous children's song about foxes which is named none other than 「こぎつねこんこん」 and I still could not believe there is a native speaker who grew up not listening to or singing it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOuoIQWlrHs

In children's stories as well, I could not remember another onomatopoeia used for a fox.