[birdky] Re: RPT/RFI--odd Eastern Towhee song?

I didn't click on your towhee sound recording because we have a slow, dial-up 
connection, but I have noticed a change in towhee calls around here unlike what 
you described. The first note of the song is a rasping, blackbird-like call 
note instead of the melodious opening note I used to hear. It's as if the 
towhee was clearing its throat to sing.
    There have been about a dozen Bobolinks here for several days. They sound 
like a bunch of banjos tuning up.
Frank Lyne frank@xxxxxxxxxxx near Dot in Logan County
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: geraldrobe 
  To: birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
  Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 11:11 PM
  Subject: [birdky] RPT/RFI--odd Eastern Towhee song?


  Today at Cave Run Lake, I encountered an Eastern Towhee that was singing a 
song unlike any I had ever heard from this species before. At first I thought 
it was a White-eyed Vireo singing, but it didn't sound exactly right; I was 
very surprised when I found the singer and realized what it was. 

  I checked all my field guides and reference books, and none of them seem to 
describe this call. All list the famous "drink-your-teeeeeee" call, and a few 
reference other calls that I've heard before, but non have anything close to 
what this bird was doing. 

  I captured a video of 3 repetitions of this call and posted it on my MySpace 
page. The link below should open that video. 

  http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=56635964

  Has anyone else ever heard this song from an Eastern Towhee?

Other related posts: