[obol] Re: Hutton's Vireo song: ID help please!
- From: Lawrence McQueen <larmcqueen@xxxxxxx>
- To: Janet Leavens <janet.leavens1@xxxxxxxxx>, obol <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 12:13:02 -0700
Janet,
I agree with Joel that the Purple Finch is the most likely candidate. I wish
to add some detail in the way of explanation.
The song that Joel refers to is a ‘secondary' song of the Purple Finch. This
song is not projected or delivered in the way that a ‘primary' song would be.
The primary song is loud and typically sung from a high, exposed porch. This
is its territorial song that identifies its singer. The vireo-like song of a
Purple Finch can be heard during the non-breeding seasons. It is not as loud
(even as a vireo song would be), and is often sung from a more concealed, lower
position. I don’t know what the purpose of this vireo-like song would be, but
many songbirds have an alternate, more quiet song. Even jays, that do not have
a primary ‘song’ such as that of a robin for instance, have a quiet,
thrasher-like song that is very surprising. Robins and many songbirds have
what is referred to as a ‘sub-song’. This can be as quiet as a whisper. And,
over all, there are other classes of songs that might sound like a private
conversation or the ‘practice’ session of a young bird, that might have little
resemblance to the ‘territorial’ song of an adult male of the species.
Hope this helps if it doesn’t confuse the matter.
Larry
On Oct 24, 2014, at 5:41 PM, Joel Geier <joel.geier@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi Janet (and anyone else who isn't currently chasing the Red-throated Pipit),
>
> Since 95% of Oregon's top birders are probably overwhelming the septic
> systems around Lake Selmac right now, I will try to respond.
>
> It is really hard to judge bird songs from a written description. Hutton's
> Vireos have a very monotonous song (just "zu-weeep, .... zu-weeep" over and
> over, and extremely regular). The variability that you describe, and the
> similarity to Red-eyed Vireo that you mention, makes me think that you were
> more likely hearing a Western Purple Finch. They are indeed less burry
> sounding than, say, Cassin's Vireo.
>
> Hopefully this is not too much of a downer, since you still have a couple of
> very cool lifers to celebrate today (Varied Thrush and Red-breasted
> Sapsucker). And I could very well be wrong, since it's hard to go from a
> written description. If you can find a way to send me the sound file, I'll
> give it another shot.
>
> Good birding,
> Joel
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