[TN-Bird] Re: Montgomery Bell SP, Apr 18, 2012

  • From: "Jean Obrist" <innisfreehorses@xxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <pandion@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, <dkirschke@xxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:46:46 -0400

I have heard Blue Jays do a Red-tailed Hawk scream so well that the little 
birds freeze.
The breeding "keowk" of the Green Heron sounds like the first part of the Wild 
Turkey call.  I swore it was a distant tom turkey, and discovered it was a 
nearby heron.
Interesting.

Jean Obrist
Bruners Grove, TN
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Alice Loftin / Don Miller 
  To: dkirschke@xxxxxxxxx 
  Cc: TN-birds 
  Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2012 9:22 PM
  Subject: [TN-Bird] Re: Montgomery Bell SP, Apr 18, 2012


  David,

  Good question.  

  In Buncombe Co., NC, I once heard a Hooded Warbler sing a song that appeared 
to be indistinguishable from that of a nearby Chestnut-sided Warbler.  In 
coastal SC, I have heard Ovenbirds and Swainson's Warblers countersing with 
practically identical songs; if I hadn't witnessed this with my own eyes as 
they sang, I wouldn't have believed it.

  Yellow-throated Warblers can certainly sound something like Swainson's 
Warblers at times.  If the typical ending of a YTWA song is exaggerated, it can 
resemble the strong three-note ending of a SWWA song.  A loose version of a 
YTWA song can also resemble the slow, laid-back trill of a Yellow-rumped 
Warbler.  Sometimes YTWA songs don't have the distinctive ending, and then they 
can really sound like Yellow-rumped songs.  

  Here in Greene Co., TN, I have heard Louisiana Waterthrushes sing songs that 
very closely resemble those of Swainson's Warblers.  Sometimes the LOWA song 
ending is less spluttery and more articulated--in other words, it can sound 
remarkably like a SWWA.  Also, bear in mind that rushing water and dense 
vegetation can alter birdsong considerably.  Sometimes even typical LOWA songs 
sound like SWWA songs until you get quite close to the singer.

  Welcome to the wonderful world of ear-birding.  Sometimes there's nothing to 
do but listen hard, pay close attention, and hope for a visual confirmation.

  Don Miller
  Greeneville, Greene Co., TN


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        I birded for about an hour before a meeting at Montgomery Bell 
yesterday.  I heard a bird near the creek and picnic area just left of the main 
entrance that sounded like a Swainson's Warbler, however I was never able to 
locate it.  It was in dense woods next to the creek, which is not a totally 
unlikely spot.  However, there were lots of Yellow-throated Warblers around and 
it looked better for La Waterthrush.  Do either of these birds ever do a song 
like Swainson's with the 3 note ending?  (Whoever said they heard a warbler 
doing a Kirtland's song recently has me paranoid.)

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