Re: Trying to id a bird by call only

On Sun, 29 Jun 2008 09:14:18 -0500, Laurence Sheldon
<lfsheldon@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:

>maryann kolb wrote:
>
>> Cardinals' songs can vary from bird to bird.  You are right in that
>> many have a two part song.  I have one that sits high in one of my
>> trees this year and starts out like he is whistling for the dog and
>> then starts a clear , loud CHEER, CHEER, CHEER.  By the way, my
>> Cardinals have had a succesful year.  I am seeing quite a few
>> juveniles right now. 
>
>I'm convinced that Cardinals (and maybe others, I'm not careful enough 
>an observer to say) have regional accents.
>
>Seems to me (and "me" and "you" are parts of the interpretive problem) 
>around here they say "RightCHeeeeeeer!  Pretty pretty birdy birdy".


You are right about regional accents. I think this is an indication
that at least part of a bird's repertoire  is learned.  The Towhees
that I hear here in
South Carolina seem to have a much different song than those I grew up
around in Virginia.

I remember reading an article somewhre about certain waarblers being
influenced by the songs of other species if their nests are close.

the thing that I love most about this hobby is that the more you look
and listen the more you see and hear.

Mary ann
Barnwell, SC