FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Lewis County: Philadelphia Vireo, other migrants

[Bill Pulliam <bb551@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Two Philadelphia Vireos turned up in the yard this morning (5/05/07)  
in western Lewis County.  One of the two was singing; in spite of  
what some field guides say this species DOES sing during spring  
migration.  I've tried for many years to nail down one single  
characteristic that will separate Philadelphia and Red-eyed Vireos by  
song.  I haven't isolated anything that is black/white; I'd be  
thrilled to hear if anyone else has.  The standard field guide  
description as "higher, thinner, slower" is unreliable: On a sonogram  
the pitch of the two species is actually just about the same; the  
difference in quality ("thinner") is very subtle and hard to judge,  
and the pacing of both species varies enough that the amount of  
overlap is huge.  The best tag I have found is that a Philadelphia is  
more likely to begin a phrase with two short high pitched notes  
before the short warble: "tse-tse-widdlewaddle" where the Red-eyed  
would usually just say "widdlewaddle."  It's not a hard and fast  
thing however, as I've also heard Red-eyeds sing a "tse-tse" intro  
sometimes, and the Philadelphia generally only uses it on some  
phrases, not all (or even most).  Still, repeatedly hearing the "tse- 
tse" is my flag to pay closer attention and try to see the bird,  
often yielding a Philadelphia in the end.

Other recent birds -- the year's first Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Veery  
appeared yesterday, and we continue to be graced with a singing  
Lincoln's Sparrow every morning since May 2.

Bill Pulliam
Hohenwald TN
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