[obol] Can Rock Wren mimic Canyon Wren?

[bob altman]

A few years ago there was a purple finch at Julia Butler Hansen Refuge
in the Lower Columbia River that would do a pretty good canyon wren at
the end of its own song.  We heard it on several visits throughout the
spring/summer and it would always do this, but always would do its own
song at the beginning.  Maybe there was a purple finch (or some other
capable mimic) coincidentally there at the same time as the rock wren? 
 
Bob Altman
American Bird Conservancy
311 NE Mistletoe
Corvallis, Oregon  97330
541 745-5339
baltman at abcbirds.org
 
-----Original Message-----
From: obol-bounces at lists.oregonstate.edu
[mailto:obol-bounces at lists.oregonstate.edu] On Behalf Of Andy Frank
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 3:26 PM
To: obol at lists.orst.edu
Subject: [obol] Can Rock Wren mimic Canyon Wren?
 
Today Wink Gross and I hiked around Larch Mountain in Multnomah County.
At Sherrard Point, at the top of Larch, we listened for awhile in vain
for Rock Wren.  I then played a tape of it; no response.  I then played
the tape for Canyon Wren and immediately a singing ROCK WREN popped up
on the rocks east of the viewpoint.  We then heard what sounded like a
CANYON WREN.  We only heard this once.  When we heard this, I had the
impression that this was coming from a different direction (northeast
rather than east) but Wink didn't.  I don't know if Canyon Wren has been
previously found in Multnomah County; if so I know it is quite uncommon.
So if Rock Wrens do mimic Canyon Wrens, it was probably just the Rock
Wren we saw and my ears played tricks on me with the location of where
the sound came from.  
 
So do Rock Wrens mimic Canyon Wrens?
 
Other birds found today included SOOTY GROUSE (heard from Sherrard
Point); HERMIT, VARIED AND SWAINSON'S THRUSH; MACGILLIVRAYS, HERMIT,
WILSONS AND YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS; ANNA'S AND RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS.
 
Thanks, Andy Frank 
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