Unknown Songbird Call (link to audio)

[Iain]

I heard this call this morning from my backyard this morning in the Bloor West Village area.  I looked for the bird but could not find it.  I think the call was coming from up high in an oak tree which was mostly obstructed by other trees.

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r274/iaindmfleming/?action=view&current=UnknownSongbird.flv

I've checked sparrows and warblers on the Cornell Website with no luck..

Anyone have an idea?

[Brian Bailey]

It sounds like a White-crowned Sparrow, but not a typical call.  The overall song follows the usual pattern, but this one seems to have added some extra syllables.  ( A jazz influenced sparrow?)  After listening again, I think I have heard this version before, but the more common song is simpler and less buzzy.

I haven't seen any White-crowned Sparrows yet, but they should be arriving any day now.

BB

[Ed O'Connor]

There was a good number of white crowns in the allotment gardens by the Leslie Street Spit on Thursday morning.

[Bruce Colvin]

It does sound like a White-crowned Sparrow. There has been extensive research in the the white- crowned's song. They actually have a two part song. The first is instinctive and common to all white -crowns, The second part is learned by the comminity they are in. When I lived on the west coast the ones that lived on Vancouver Island had a distintively different second part of their song to the ones living on the mainland. Yet the introduction part of the song was the same. This can also be quite localized. I haven't been here in Toronto long enough to find out on my own, but it is quiet possible that White- crowns in the east end of the city could have a noticeably different song that the ones in the west end. Some long time Toronto birders may be able to answer that.  Bruce

[Iain]

Thanks for the replies.  I was leaning towards WCSP just from the description in the Sibley's.  The call on the website is the standard call I guess and doesn't sound much like my recording.  Thanks for clearing it up Bruce, Brian and Ed.

Iain

[Voyageur]

We have been enjoying a WCSP in our Southern Etobicoke back yard all week and saw one over at Sam Smith Park too.