Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Backyard Birding => Topic started by: achagnon1 on June 22, 2011, 08:16:07 PM

Title: What is this bird?
Post by: achagnon1 on June 22, 2011, 08:16:07 PM

I can't seem to identify this bird I frequently hear but never see. It whips by very quickly now and then but I never get a good look at it. It only sings (if you can call it that) in flight. It is a rapid, very haunting and low pitched series of soft hoot like calls. From what I can see, it is a fairly small dark colored bird. It is most often heard at dusk and about an hour or so into the evening, but I have heard and seen it a few times during the day. It is driving me crazy not knowing.
If anyone can give me some possible birds to perhaps look up on the internet for audio files to compare. I have been to several sites already with no luck.

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Post by: angieinto on June 22, 2011, 08:17:49 PM

Is it like a "chit chit" noise? Could be Chimney Swifts.

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Post by: achagnon1 on June 22, 2011, 08:23:07 PM

Hi. no. Not a chit chit. I can't even call it a song. It is very low, rapid series of about 10-12 woo woo woo.

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Post by: Soaring Hawk on June 23, 2011, 08:26:14 AM

Perhaps a nighthawk?  or a whip-poor-will?.....

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Post by: achagnon1 on June 23, 2011, 10:27:18 AM

Thanks, but it is not an obvious or common bird such as the whip-poor-will. It eludes me.

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Post by: achagnon1 on June 23, 2011, 10:38:01 AM

Wow, the American woodcock's call is very shrill, quick and high pitched. It has the right tempo though.

Title: Re: What is this bird?
Post by: sant0844 on April 27, 2015, 11:21:31 AM

I have also been haunted by this small bird - it flies high above very quickly in the evening. Is it some kind of nighthawk?

I have listened to the songs of the sharp-skinned hawk, northern goshawk, lesser nighthawk, common nighthawk, common poorwill, eastern whip-poor-will online, and none is correct. I checked all nightjars that live in ontario that were listed on main birding sites.

It sings a haunting, almost loon-like woo woo woo woo and I think it is an evening hawk of some kind - not an owl.

If anyone can identify this bird I would be so grateful! It is ubiquitous, spring through fall in evenings in eastern ontario south of ottawa, fills the evening air with mournful, lonely calls.

Title: Re: What is this bird?
Post by: Reuven_M on April 27, 2015, 11:51:44 AM

Try Wilson's Snipe

Title: Re: What is this bird?
Post by: Rotarran on April 27, 2015, 11:59:21 AM

Yeah I was thinking Wilson's Snipe too.