[obol] The song is not the same/Swainson's Thrush

[Alan Contreras]

This time of year, the Starlings start presaging spring by doing amazingly
good imitations of migrants that won't be here for a while.  The ones near
my house prefer Western Wood Pewee but they throw in a Sora now and then.

-- 
Alan Contreras
EUGENE, OREGON
acontrer at mindspring.com
www.OREGONREVIEW.BLOGSPOT.COM ­ Commentary
www.CONTRERASBIRDS.BLOGSPOT.COM ­ Current Bird Photos


"Every time I hear a political speech or I read those of our leaders, I am
horrified at having, for years, heard nothing which sounded human.  It is
always the same words telling the same lies. And the fact that men accept
this, that the people's anger has not destroyed these hollow clowns, strikes
me as proof that men attribute no importance to the way they are governed;
that they gamble--yes, gamble--with a whole part of their life and their
so-called 'vital interests'."

Albert Camus, 1937





> From: <sandyleapt at comcast.net>
> Date: Sun, 23 Mar 2008 15:54:37 +0000
> To: "Dennis P. Vroman" <dpvroman at budget.net>, DAVID IRONS <llsdirons at msn.com>,
> <celata at pacifier.com>
> Cc: obol <obol at lists.oregonstate.edu>
> Subject: Re: [obol] The song is not the same/Swainson's Thrush
> 
> Hi OBOLees,
> 
> Given all the helpful feedback I have received, it has to be a bird that
> mimics a Swainson's Thrush.   The song was a beautiful, liquid,
> upward-spiraling song that to my ear and memory matched the Swainson's Thrush.
> I had been listening to Thrush songs before my friend and I went to Oaks
> Bottom because, in our innocence, we hoped to find a Wood Thrush or Swainson's
> Thrush for her list.  We did not put a Thrush on her list  because we could
> not see the singer.  Good thing, we would have had to correct the list.
> 
> I spent considerable time this morning searching and listening Thayer Birding
> Software's Guide to Birds of North America, I know the software does not
> include all the sounds each bird is capable of making from experience.  The
> search I used was Oregon, Woodland, I checked all bird sizes up to American
> Crow, musical and upward.  Purple Finch, House Finch came up with that search.
> I also listened to the Robin, Western Tanager and Black-headed Grossbeak.  I
> also checked songs of the birds I saw along the trail at Oaks Bottom including
> the Yellow-rumped Warblers, just in case.  I guess this is a bird that will
> remain a mystery.  Darn.
> 
> Thanks for all the help.
> 
> Sandy Leaptrott
> NE Portland
> 
>  -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: "Dennis P. Vroman" <dpvroman at budget.net>
>> ...and they sometimes add Steller's Jay to the end of their early season
>> songs 
>> (at least in sw Oregon where I reside).   Dennis (north of Grants Pass)
>> 
>>   In addition to the species Mike mentions, Purple Finches do two-note phrase
>> that is nearly dead on for a Cassin's Vireo.
>> 
>>   Dave Irons
>> 
>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> I have mentioned more than once the starling that does a spot on
>>> Bald Eagle imitation in my neighborhood.
>>> 
>>> It is spring and stuff is singing, but the main migration of neotropicals
>>> like Swainson's Thrushes and nighthawks and Western Wood Pewees and stuff
>>> is still weeks and weeks away.
>>> 
>>> This is a good time to fine tune those listening skills by listening
>>> for the things that aren't quite right about what you think you're hearing.
>>> 
>>> Song Sparrows will often produce a "wook" note that sounds like Swainson's
>>> Thrushes. Most often it's imbedded in their full song, but is ventriloquial.
>>> The wook will sound like it's coming from a different location, but careful
>>> listening will put the note in the same spot every time the Song Sparrow
>>> sings.
>>> 
>>> Purple Finch songs (and to a lesser degree House Finch songs) are often
>>> mistaken for Swainson's Thrush. I've been given more than a couple
>>> recordings of "early singing Swainson's" that turned out to be Purple
>>> Finches. Purple Finches also do a fairly convincing Warbling Vireo.
>>> 
>>> Juncos can sound like Orange-crowned Warblers. They have also sorts
>>> of contact notes that can sound like hummingbirds and Lincoln Sparrows,
>>> warbler chips and even a little "duhr-duhr-duhr" thing that sounds
>>> like the front end of a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
>>> 
>>> I once chased what I was certain was an early Rufous Hummingbird around
>>> for at least 10 minutes before I finally discovered the to tree brances
>>> that were rubbing together when the wind blew.....
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> sandyleapt at comcast.net wrote:
>> 
> 
> 
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