[obol] Re: Hutton's Vireo song: ID help please!
- From: David Irons <llsdirons@xxxxxxx>
- To: Larry McQueen <larmcqueen@xxxxxxx>, Janet Leavens <janet.leavens1@xxxxxxxxx>, OBOL Oregon Birders Online <obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 19:17:17 +0000
Janet,
I too am in agreement with Joel (and Larry). The vocalization you describe
sounds like Purple Finch. Note that there are two distinct subspecies of Purple
Finch and the vocalizations of western birds are likely to differ from what you
might normally hear in the east.
Dave Irons
Portland, OR
> Subject: [obol] Re: Hutton's Vireo song: ID help please!
> From: larmcqueen@xxxxxxx
> Date: Sat, 25 Oct 2014 12:13:02 -0700
> To: janet.leavens1@xxxxxxxxx; obol@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> 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 m
> ight 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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