Joann Merritt's Essays

On Identifying Birds By Sound
April, 1994

Last week I was certain that I heard a House Wren “percolating” in the underbrush, but the bird that eventually appeared atop the Wolfberry bush was a Lincoln’s Sparrow who bubbled and percolated a few more verses. Have you ever listened to the Western Meadowlark singing his flute-like phrases? Keep listening, for it might be the Scotts’s Oriole who joyfully whistles a similar clear melody. I mis-identified both of these birds by relying on their sound alone.

If birds were a litigious sort the Avian Court docket might list numerous “song-suits.” Some cases could be between members of the same family. For instance, the Curve-billed, Long-billed and Brown Thrashers might each accuse the other of plagiarism. “But, your Honor, he’s singing my song” they would implore. Perhaps the judge would be W. O. Owl who would dismiss the case, declaring that attentive ears could detect the difference in the songs. Further, he would admonish them to cease their call notes and alarm notes and get on with their spring duties of establishing territory, attracting a mate, building a home and raising a family.

I offer these additional examples of birdsongs that can be confusing. According to Betty Rae the Palm Warbler she heard singing on April 17th sounded much like the Chipping Sparrows who were “chipping” in the same tree. The Roadrunner and Yellow-billed Cuckoo, both members of the Cuckoo family, share a throaty quality in their calling. The Carolina Wren has several songs, one of which is an excellent imitation of a Cardinal.

The Robin and Grosbeaks have lovely warbles that can be confusing. The Robin singing “cheerily-cheerily-cheerily” is eagerly awaited in the north where it represents the arrival of spring. The Rose-breasted Grosbeak sweetly warbles a song which was described by Audubon in 1834: “The evening was calm and beautiful, the sky sparkled with stars. Suddenly there burst on my soul the serenade of the Rose-breasted bird, so rich, so mellow, so loud in the stillness of the night, that sleep fled from my eyelids. Never did I enjoy music more.” You can’t hear more beautiful singing (or words of praise) than that. The Black-headed Grosbeak also delights the listener with a warbling rendition of his spring song.

In the summer of 1992 I heard what I assumed to be a Blue Grosbeak, mainly because that’s what one expects to hear in Midland in August, but after hearing the phrases several times I realized it was vireo, the Warbling Vireo. In the early morning hours it’s hard to distinguish between the Scissortails and the Western Kingbirds chattering wake-up calls, before you’ve had your coffee.

Spring had arrived and daily the exciting medley of birdsongs increases in volume and exuberance. With practice at this time of the year you can increase your ability to identify bird’s songs and calls.