Outdoor Ontario

Discussion => Behaviour => Topic started by: Napper on June 29, 2014, 11:42:25 AM

Title: Bird song
Post by: Napper on June 29, 2014, 11:42:25 AM
Hey

Do Eastern Phoebe's song ever vary? I've got a bird that is singing a really up tempo 4 note pre-amble ending with a similar ending to a Phoebe's song

I might have to record it.

it is starting sound like a Siskin. I'll go record it after the big game

Napper :cry:  :oops:
Title: Re: Bird song
Post by: Brian Bailey on July 01, 2014, 12:45:00 PM
I'm sure doctoral theses have been written on this subject, but my layman's opinion is that all bird species have variability in their songs - some much more than others.  My first ear-opener on this was 20 years ago, in Manitoba.  I was searching for a bird that was singing a song similar to a Song Sparrow.  It turned out to be a Song Sparrow with a Manitoba accent.

More recently, there was a Willow Flycatcher in Sam Smith Park 2 or 3 years ago that sometimes did a call that was really similar to an Olive-sided Flycatcher.  It got a few of us going!

BB