Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: Leslie on April 07, 2010, 06:13:52 PM

Title: Strange Bird in my backyard
Post by: Leslie on April 07, 2010, 06:13:52 PM

I just saw this within the half-hour.
I heard it before I saw it.  It was very vocal, a high pitched chittering.  However, the sound was musical, so the chittering wasn't so high-pitched as to sound screechy or scratchy.
Something flew overhead--dark, long wings bent & pointed, fairly far to its front, bird was small.  Silent.
Sound started up again from the direction in which the bird went (& stopped in the "woods" at the back), so I associate the one that flew overhead with the chittering.
Sorry I can't do better than this.

Title:
Post by: GStuart on April 07, 2010, 06:27:04 PM

Could it have been an American Kestrel?

Voice -->  http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/SOUN ... S/133A.mp3 (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/SOUND/SPECIES/133A.mp3)

Title: Strange bird
Post by: worth on April 07, 2010, 08:54:23 PM

I always associate "chittering" with chimney swift. It would be a dark bird with long (relative to body) wings. This time of the year would be early for them but who knows with this past warm weather.

Title:
Post by: GStuart on April 08, 2010, 10:58:54 PM

Chimney Swift voice --> http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/SOUN ... S/330A.mp3 (http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/SOUND/SPECIES/330A.mp3)

Title:
Post by: Leslie on April 09, 2010, 01:59:03 PM

Thanks for these links.
I'm leaning to the swift--the kestrel's a little squeakier (ie higher pitched) than the sound I heard.
Leslie