[obol] Alder Flycatcher at Malheur?

[Wayne C. Weber]

Tim and Oregon Birders,

Attempts to depict bird songs phonetically are almost
always doomed to failure, because they sound different to different
observers. To me, the Alder Flycatcher song sounds like
"ree-BEEE-wip", with the third ("wip") note softer, and undoubtedly
harder to hear at a distance. However, every Alder Fly song I
have ever heard is distinctly 3-noted. The key point is that the
second note is the loudest (and highest-pitched), unlike the Willow,
in which the first note is the loudest and highest-pitched.
(This applies to both of the 2 main alternating phrases which are
included in Willow Flycatcher songs.)

Differences in attempts to phonetically depict bird songs are one
reason why I believe that extralimital records of Alder or Willow
Flycatchers should not be based on verbal descriptions of songs,
but only on recordings of songs, which can be turned into
sound spectrographs (sonagrams) and described objectively,
independent of observer interpretation. We originally accepted
Alder Flycatcher on the Vancouver, BC bird checklist on the
basis of a 1981 record which was well-described, but not recorded.
However, this species was later removed from the list, and not
until 2006 did we get a local record of Alder Flycatcher which was
substantiated by a recording. I still believe that the 1981 record was
valid, but it cannot now be verified.  (Sound familiar, anyone??)

To Mike Patterson and Jeff Gilligan-- two of Oregon's most
capable and respected observers-- my apologies if I did not
quote you accurately. However, it seemed to me that both of you
were at least suggesting that there was some regional variation
in song patterns of Willow Flycatchers within the Pacific NW.
I have not seen (or rather, heard) the slightest evidence of this
in the Pacific NW--  at least, not variation that can be easily
detected by the human ear. It seemed to me that some of the
"song variation" described by Mike, at least, was a result of
confusing the "fweee-beeer" call of the Willow Flycatcher with
the song of one or both species.

I continue to be baffled by the difficulty that many observers
seem to have in separating the songs of Willow and Alder
Flycatchers, which to me is quite straightforward. I have
a much tougher time consistently separating the songs
of Townsend's and Black-throated Gray Warblers--  or
even Dark-eyed Juncos and Chipping Sparrows-- than I do in
separating Willow and Alder Flycatchers. I'm glad that Dave Lauten,
at least, agrees with me that the separation is not all that
difficult. What I find REALLY difficult is trying to separate these
or many other species of Empids based strictly on visual field
marks--  much tougher than separating the songs!! But then, that
may be because I have good hearing and poor eyesight...


Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net







----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tim Rodenkirk" <garbledmodwit at yahoo.com>
To: <obol at lists.oregonstate.edu>
Sent: Friday, June 01, 2007 12:07 PM
Subject: [obol] Alder Flycatcher at Malheur?


Well I listened to the Stokes E. Guide again (been
listening to it on shuffle for a few weeks to sharpen
me up for my Michigan trip) and the Alder Flycatcher
song on the tape seems identical to the song I heard
along the central patrol road (CPR) south of Benson
Pond on 5/24.  It's interesting to note that the field
guide mnemonics given for some birds do not "work" for
me, so I make up my own when I need to.  I remember
hearing Alders in N. Minnesota a couple years ago and
thinking they were singing freeBEER- if there was a
third syllable in their I missed it, and I seem to
miss it on the Stokes CD also.  Anyhow, suffice to say
that if you are over at Malheur, and would like to
take a walk and listen to lots of Willow Flycatchers
and maybe an Alder (it's been over a week since I
heard this mystery bird), I'd recommend that first
half-mile south of Benson Pond on the CPR.

Tim R
Coos Bay



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