Which bird makes this whistle?

May 30, 2006 11:38 AM

Bird Song-o-rama: Northern California Sierras, two pairs of doublet whistles (notes G-G/ [lower] D-D), song used often by two birds as call and response. Ring any bells?

Heard this bird about one million times while working up near Bear Valley (somewhat north of Yosemite, so birdwatchers there might click on it) but have never seen the bugger. The birds can often be coersced into responding by either starting the whistle or completing the pair.

posted by Ogre Lawless to pets & animals (5 comments total)

I'm just beginning to learn about birds but if it's really common, you might be able to triangulate it using this and this.
posted by trey at 12:04 PM on May 30, 2006

Ach -- the backyard survey is problematic. Few folks up that way and fewer still seem to participate in the survey. Somebody put up a Birds of Calavaras Big Trees which contains a pretty long list of birds found maybe thirty miles or less from where I used to work, but using the wonderful WhatBird site I couldn't find a match...
posted by Ogre Lawless at 2:30 PM on May 30, 2006

Coincidentally, I think I just heard that song in my backyard while I was brushing my teeth so I went to check it out, and it was a chickadee. Check out the sound file on that page and see what you think.
posted by purplemonkie at 4:37 AM on May 31, 2006

Whoa. Purplemonkie, I ♥ you! I'd forlornly started thinking I was going to spend the rest of the week listening to damned bird samples. Huzzah! My faith in AxeMe renewed!
posted by Ogre Lawless at 4:07 PM on May 31, 2006

Glad to help! As an amateur birder I'm sort of ashamed I didn't recognize it right away, but luckily Mr. Chickadee was kind enough to show up and give me a refresher.
posted by purplemonkie at 5:53 AM on June 1, 2006