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Bluebirds Songs & CallsIn addition to Messages that have appeared in the Bluebird Mailing Lists on this topic, the following are on the Audubon Society of Omaha website: Bluebird Calls and Songs Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 10:22:34 -0600 Having heard bluebirds singing every day in person or in the Bluebird Theme I downloaded from www.slivoski.com/birding/themes/index.html , I am accustomed to many variations. The other day, a bluebird song sounded a little "off"--I identified the singer as a mockingbird! Within a couple of days I heard (and saw) a mockingbird do a perfect imitation of a Carolina chickadee's "chick-a-dee-dee-dee" call. Kate Oschwald Date: Sat, 23 Mar 2002 13:13:21 -0400 Haleya Priest Amherst MA Kate Oschwald wrote: Having heard bluebirds singing every day in person or in the Bluebird ... From: "Shane and Emily Marcotte" marcottesixx"at"hotmail.com The National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds describes the voice of an Eastern Bluebird as "a liquid and musical turee or queedle; song a soft melodious warble". Well guys I can sit in the back yard and I hear some birds I know the sound of and some I dont.Each time I see the Bluebirds they dont make any sounds or I am inside watching with binocs. Ive tried 1 download of their call but it was a file that my com wouldnt play. Any suggestions? Shane and Emily Marcotte From: "Lawrence Herbert"
Quite a few of our cavity nesting birds sing on occasion during the fall and winter. Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren and our EABL. I haven't heard, and I don't recall in the literature, either House Wren or Prothonotary Warbler singing off season. Question for those in Western and Mountain Bluebird range: do either of them sing at times in the fall and winter? Good birding, Larry H. Joplin MO. From: "judymellin" It seems that many young of the year practice their songs and calls during
the fall and winter. I guess they need to be in good voice by spring to
attract a mate. I really enjoy hearing some off-tune songs! From: rindfleisch12"at"elknet.net
Are Eastern Bluebirds are night owls in SE Wisconsin?!? It was a perfect fall night on Saturday… and a beautiful day. The blues stopped at the bird bath for an evening drink and bath before night fall. There were 5-6 darting in and out of the bath. Decided to gather wood and have one last camp fire in 03 … and had incredible pleasure of listening to Eastern blues calling throughout the night! I thought my imagination was getting away from me, but they were calling to one another long after sunset (at least until 10:30 anyway) from 4 different locations/trees. Other than owls, rarely do I hear wild birds at night. ... Cheryl R. SE Wisconsin From: Kate Arnold, bbnestbox"at"1starnet.com At 04:58 PM 12/31/03 -0500, brian wrote: "Within the past year, someone had sent an attachment with a recording of bluebirds. The bb's on my trail are so shy that I never hear them sing. >Could anyone send it to me? ..." One source of some nice
bluebird WAV files is Kate Arnold Paris, TX 100 mi NE of Dallas 33.6853N 95.6293W From: "Haleya Priest" Dear List, one of our MBA members is about to do a BB talk and wants a audio-cassette tape or CD of the song of the eastern bluebird. I don't know where to tell him to go for one. Thanks :-) Haleya Priest Amherst MA From: Mary Beth Roen, mbroen"at"hotmail.com ...go to www.birdzilla.com and they have CDs or tapes for sale, or click on Bluebirds under "Backyard Birds" to hear an audio. Mary Roen, River Falls, WI From: Paula, PaulaZ"at"columbus.rr.com I have never really observed bird behavior much before, but on these cold winter days, what else have I got to do? For those of you on the list with extensive bluebird experience, could you please clarify this behavior for me? For last two days, I have had a male EABL chattering up a storm. The chattering lasts for minutes without ceasing. Although I have heard EABL vocalizing short bursts of chatter, I have never heard it to this extent. Today, as I looked out back at the tree line, I had a group of 5 EABL sitting together (siblings?), I also saw two pairs sitting close together, and then there was Mr. Bluebird, sitting away from the other 9 just chattering his little heart out. Is he looking for a mate? I had fun opening back window and doing my bluebird "whistle" for them. One flew to feeder. I whistled again and here comes another one. Whistle, and another one. What a beautiful sight to see their graceful flight to the feeder on this brilliant, crisp winter day. Soon there were 6 at the feeder, looking at me out of the corner of their eye. Yesterday, I also observed one male chasing another from limb to limb. Are they establishing territory/mates this early in year? Last night, temperatures here in central Ohio dipped below zero. If I were a bluebird, the only chattering I'd be doing right now is to keep warm... Paula Z Powell (Central) Ohio From: Paula [mailto:PaulaZ"at"columbus.rr.com All right everyone. Now they are all sitting in my front tree and it sounds to me as though they are all chattering now. Their tails are twitching up and down too. Maybe they are just high on Bluebird Banquet and sunshine? Maybe they are happy with my attempt at starling control and cheering me on? ... Paula Z Powell (Central) Ohio From: Pamela
Ford, jpford"at"comcast.net I've observed that the bluebirds tend to "chatter" most when there is danger or an irritant nearby. Some examples, a cat in the next yard, or when I come back onto the porch after they started eating at the feeder and they all have to fly to the tree and chatter and wait for me to leave again. They chatter frantically when a house sparrow makes an attempt on the nest. I've also heard the chatter at times when I've approached a nest box with very young nestlings (perhaps by the time the nestling are older the parents are too frazzled finding food to spend much energy chattering!) Also, although the bluebirds seem not too concerned about our dogs, they do chatter at them when they get too close to the feeder (<4 feet). However, if a hawk is nearby, no chattering! All the birds shut up immediately! Pam in Harford County, Maryland From: Burnham, Barbara, Barbara.Burnham"at"zzz.zzz Certainly, I'm no expert. These are only my observations: The loud chattering call often indicates a predator (hawk, owl, cat, snake) and is a warning to the others. Other bold little birds (titmouse, wren, and chickadee) have a similar warning call and will sometimes even harass the predator. During the winter, our backyard bluebird pair allow the young to stay and feed in their territory until the weather begins to turn warmer. Then the young are chased off to find their own mates and establish other territory. It can be difficult to watch, especially when they are hungry and there are mealworms to be had. Sometimes this chasing behavior is between siblings, establishing a "pecking order," or simply could be "play" as they learn from the parent male as he defends his territory. It is amazing how much they imitate their parents (as when the first brood learns to feed later siblings). In at least one case, I have seen an injured sibling harassed unmercifully by siblings and parents. Hard to understand, and harder to watch. Barbara Burnham Ellicott City, MD From: Pamela Ford, jpford"at"comcast.net In the animal kingdom, the survival of the flock or herd comes before the survival or "rights" of the individual. Because injured or sick members threaten the flock, either by infecting others with illness or attracting predators, they are often harassed out of the group or outright killed. Animals quickly pick up on clues that something is not right with another member of the group and start picking on the weakened member only stopping if it is still able to fight back. I've personally seen a weakened chicken killed by others in its flock, and a sick cow harassed mercilessly out of the herd. Predators are very attuned to changes in behavior that might indicate vulnerability, and one injured creature can draw a predator to a group that might otherwise be left alone. We just have to remember that our societal rules are not theirs, as difficult as it is to see this happen. Pam in Harford County, Maryland From: Nature1951"at"aol.com Would anyone know a source where I could purchase a CD with the eastern bluebird's song? I actually only need perhaps 15 seconds worth of song to include in my educational presentations. Currently, I play the song using the old style casette, but would like to play the song using my lap top computer. Thanks, John Rogers Brewerton, NY From: Betty Faye Lawton, fuzdawg"at"metrocast.net "Stokes Field Guide to Bird Songs" is a triple CD package that I bought at my local WildBird store. I got it with the Field Guide Book, but you may be able to buy it alone. You also may be able to buy it at Borders or Amazon bookstores . ..this set includes only birds in the "Eastern Region" of the USA. It is well worth it, as I have been able to ID birds that stay in the woods .... as the shy but beautiful song of the Wood Thrust who comes by every night at dusk during the summer.That makes my day! BF again From: Haleya Priest, mablue"at"gis.net ...here is another solution for bringing the sound of the bluebird with you on your trail, or during talks: They now sell these cute little stuffed bluebirds (and other birds) that have a little contraption in them that makes sounds. The bluebird honestly sounds like a bluebird! You can take the sound maker right out of the stuff animal and "play" it as often and anywhere you like. Heck, keep yourself company when you are lonely for your blues! :-) H From: Crystal Hill, crystaljhill"at"msn.com From: Chickie [mailto:critters5"at"frontiernet.net] [in response to request for description of bluebird song] ... All I can say is that the blue bird's song is sweet and lilting. Just what you would expect from such a sweet beauty. Chickie from Fonda. From: Kerry Sweet [mailto:ksweet3450"at"yahoo.com] Sharon, Here is a link that I think you can listen to the call or song of the Bluebirds. http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/audio_pages/eastern_bluebird_audio.html Their description: "The song is a rich, warbling turr, turr-lee, turr-lee. Bluebirds also have a tew! call note and a chittering scold call". I hope it works. Kerry in NE okla. From: Keith & Sandy Kridler [mailto:txbluebirder"at"sbcglobal.net] Sent: Wednesday, April 20, 2005 7:45 AM Subject: birds singing before dawn The best time to hear birds singing is before dawn. I copied this off the web as it probably applies to bluebirds also. Almost any topic you are interested in can be found somewhere in cyber space. KK 13. The dawn chorus is linked with female fertility in the Willow Tit Parus montanus. P. Welling, K. Koivula, and K. Lahti. 1995. J. Avian Biol. 26:241-246.---In many passerines, singing rates peak just before sunrise. Among the explanations for this "dawn chorus" is that it is part of a mixed reproductive strategy of males who are striving to acquire extrapair matings while avoiding cuckoldry. The dawn chorus is associated with the female fertility period in some species. It also could be a form of honest advertisement if higher-quality males have more time and energy to sing. Toward understanding the function of the dawn chorus, Welling et el. examined singing behavior in Willow Tits relative to the fertile period of females and determined whether singing rates differ between adults and yearlings. Data were collected from 57 pairs, each monitored for one morning. The fertile period of females was considered to begin 11 days before egg laying and to end with the penultimate egg. The amount of time males sang peaked 10 days before their mates began laying and declined afterwards, and older males sang more than did yearling males. Males also tended to begin singing earlier in the morning when their mates were fertile, but the trend was not signifi- cant. The difference in singing rates between older and yearling males was due largely to the higher number of yearlings that did not sing at all during the observation period. When these males were ignored, singing rates did not differ between older and yearling males. The results were consistent with the idea that the dawn chorus functions (in part) in communi- cation associated with sperm competition (i.e., mate guarding and/or seeking extrapair mat- ings) and that older males invest more in singing than do yearlings. The door clearly is open for further study, including experimentation. [Dept. of Zoology, Univ. of Oulu, Linnanmaa, FIN-90570 Oulu, Finland.] From: Trish Culpepper [mailto:trishkcully"at"earthlink.net] I know I read an e-mail from someone wanting a CD/tape of bird songs (besides myself)...., but can't locate it now. This looks like a good site. From: Kate Arnold [mailto:koscharn"at"cox.net] Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2005 5:58 PM Subject: RE: question on BB sounds and 3rd eggs. [In response to: We have so many birds, gold finch, red birds etc. They all sing so much and at the same time. My husband and I seem to disagree on which song my bluebirds are. Is there a site I can go to that I could hear there song ?] I learned what a bluebird sounded like when I downloaded a bluebird theme for my computer. The website is www.slivoski.com and there are a variety of bird themes, complete with pictures and sounds. They are free, no ads, no viruses, I have used them on various computers for several years now. The calls are accurate, and the birds include cardinals, chickadees, bluebirds, goldfinches, mourning doves and woodpeckers. Kate Arnold From: Tree Greenwood [mailto:doctree"at"crosslink.net] Sent: Monday, July 18, 2005 4:54 PM Subject: Re: question on BB sounds and 3rd eggs. Hi, Lynne, Unless some replies were sent directly to you and not cc: to the list, I'll add a couple of very good sites. I recommend that all beginning birders bookmark both sites for help when a new bird is seen or for questions just like yours. http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/infocenter.html The first is the Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter hosted by the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in MD. Recordings are in .mp3 format so that you can right-click on 'CALL' in the navigation bar and save the sound files to hard drive for future reference. Be sure to give the file a better name than 'h7660ca.,p3'. The second site is Cornell Lab of Ornithology's 'All About Birds' on-line bird guide. Their recordings are in .ram (REAL audio media) format so you'll have to download REAL Player. Saving the files takes a bit of work in your browser's cache if you want to save them. Listen to recordings on both sites. They're different so you get some idea of the natural variations in the calls and sounds. > Also yesterday I asked you guys if it was too late to have a 3rd set Third clutches are usually smaller but no less successful than earlier nestings. Now you're going to have to provide more nestboxes next year so all your babies have homes. ;=)) Take care, R J 'Tree' Greenwood From: Shawn [mailto:shawnee4"at"charter.net] I have been meaning to tell all of you about this. We got it last summer, and it is really educational. I can now recognize quite a few birds just by hearing them. Then I start looking for them. It is "Common Birds And Their Songs" by Lang Elliott and Marie Read and CD (Houghton Mifflin publisher). From: stan blaylock [mailto:birdwatcher103"at"bellsouth.net] Where can I get a sound byte of the Bluebirds song? From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net] Sent: Wednesday, March 01, 2006 2:03 PM Subject: RE: Misc Hi Stan. I couldn’t tell if you got a reply. Here are some sources for eastern bluebird songs you can listen to online. Of course bird song CDs also have them. And there is a plush toy you can buy that has a very realistic EABL song (http://www.wildrepublic.com/homeflash.asp ) USGS http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i7660id.html Birdwatcher’s digest http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/site/backyard_birds/bird_id/eastern_bluebird_audio.aspx Cornell (I couldn’t get this one to work): http://www.birds.cornell.edu/programs/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Eastern_Bluebird.html#sound If you’re using it for a presentation, make sure you get the right species, as I understand there is some variation in the song. Bet from CT From: Kathleen Arnold [mailto:koscharn"at"cox.net] Try www.slivoski.com Their bluebird theme includes bluebird songs. Kate Arnold From: Bet Zimmerman [mailto:ezdz"at"charter.net] I just ran across this again – probably the best eastern bluebird song AND chatter recording I’ve heard online so far. http://www.marylandbluebirdsociety.org/gettingstarted.htm Bet from CT [Note: should begin to play when page is opened. If it does not, make sure computer sound is on, and "play sounds from websites" is enabled. May not work in Firefox/Mozilla browser.] From: John Schuster [mailto:wildwingco"at"earthlink.net] After the rain sweep through Northern California and the sky cleared up this morning, I heard our Western Bluebirds singing away and I could record them (my recording studio is just a few yards away form one of my most productive nest boxes.). However, the big challenge that I have is Highway 101 is just down the hill from our vineyard and the sound of the cars driving by is load, so I might have to wait until a lazy Sunday morning comes along to try a recording our Western Bluebirds. .... John Schuster From: Torrey [mailto:torrey_canyon"at"yahoo.com] Sent: Monday, March 06, 2006 1:00 PM Subject: Re: Best EABL song recording ...A lot of birds have regional dialects, just like people do, & this recording sounds like the EABL i hear in Michigan. I like the "squeeze birds" produced by Audubon, but the bluebird sounded wrong to me so i got the chickadee instead. Torrey Wenger From: T LINEHAN [mailto:gtlinehan"at"msn.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 2:14 AM Subject: My Western Bluebirds Don't Sing Hi all,
I have only been a bluebird lover for the past two years. I have read how beautiful there song is and have look it up on the internet to hear how they sound. My western bluebirds that have nested in my nest boxes never sing. Like a gold finch, or house finch. They are very quite, and make very few sounds. The sounds they make are danger watch out and a occasional small noise when talking amongst themselves. It really bothers me, I want to hear them. Is it because there's not many around here. I have sat out many mornings and evenings watching and listening to them. When they land in a tree they just preen themselves. Do western bluebirds sing like eastern bluebirds?
Gail
Grants Pass, OR
From: Evelyn Cooper [mailto:emcooper"at"bayou.com]
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 6:22 AM Subject: Re: My Western Bluebirds Don't Sing That is quite unusual. Do you get our REAL early? In the very early spring is when I hear mine most. My yard and my trail is like a continuous song. It is absolutely amazing.
Evelyn
From: John Schuster [mailto:wildwingco"at"earthlink.net]
Dear Gail,
Sent: Wednesday, August 16, 2006 10:56 AM Subject: Re: My Western Bluebirds Don't Sing In my opinion, it is rare to hear Western Bluebirds sing if at all. To date, I've never heard a Western Bluebird belting out a song.
At best, all I've ever heard out of our WEBB is a chirp as they fly around the property. However, that chirp is a lovely sweet sound that warms my heart and it takes a good ear to recognize the sound between all the other birds in the area.
By providing Western Bluebirds a place to nest Gail, you are doing a great service, so keep up the good work, enjoy the chirps of the Western Bluebird and perhaps one day we will both hear their song as their numbers increase.
John Schuster
Cotati, CA 94931-9604, USA
From: Mary Clare [mailto:maryclare"at"cox.net]
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 12:40 AM Subject: Western Bluebirds Sing Hello John,
I read your e-mail with great interest. We have Western Bluebirds nesting in a birdhouse
in our liquid amber tree in our front yard every year. They are a pleasure to watch and
get to know.
Unfortunately, on May 6th, our neighbor's cat killed the female bluebird while the babies
were still young. With encouragement from the people on the Bluebird list, I increased the
supply of mealworms to help the male take care of the babies.
We were happy to see all three leave the nest and take flite on May 17th! The male
brought the babies back to get mealworms approximately ten days later. I enjoyed
watching the male teach the babies to defend themselves against other birds
("dive bombing"), to catch insects in mid-air, etc.
In June, the male brought a new female to the feeder. He was trying with remarkable
determination to mate with the female. He brought nesting material ...in and out of the
birdhouse...and flew with vibrant energy around our property producing streaks of bright
blue "flite maneuvers!" However, the female would not go in the birdhouse.
One morning I stood under the tree where the bluebird house is located in our front yard
and dished out mealworms into the feeder. At the same time, the male bluebird flew into
the birdhouse above my head and stayed inside....SINGING HIS HEART OUT!
What a rare and wonderful experience...hearing the beautiful SONG of the Western Bluebird!
The male bluebird's SONG is truly a treasure that will always be with me!
This is the first and only time I've ever heard a bluebird sing. I can hear their distinctive"chirps"
among the other birds and most often, locate them.
The male bluebird and his prospective mate left on July 7th. Hopefully, they will return.
Take care.
Mary Clare Schlesinger
Escondido, CA From: T LINEHAN [mailto:gtlinehan"at"msn.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 17, 2006 2:35 PM Subject: Re: Do WEBB Sing Hi John,
Thank you so much for your email regarding WEBB singing. It brought tears to my eyes, for there are so few in my area. I want so much for them to be more abundant like the Eastern BB's. You have given me great encouragement and I have already started a small BB trail. I started putting nest boxes up in a couple of neighbors yards and have ask them if I can monitor them. So far, things are looking good. My neighbors have started calling me the BB lady.
Thanks again,
Gail Linehan, Grants Pass, OR
From: Ann&Tom Long [mailto:longann"at"pacinfo.com] Hi Gail, Western Bluebirds do have a call they use, I suppose, to keep in touch with each other. I hear it most often after the chicks have left the nest, and they are high up in the trees and are being feed by the parents. We have about twenty big fir trees behind our house and they will be scattered all over the place calling to each other. It sounds Tom Long From: Sue Bulger [mailto:suebulger"at"gmail.com]
Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 5:08 PM Subject: Re: Do WEBB Sing You have to get up early to hear the bluebird sing! During nesting season the males begin a lovely, urgent-sounding song just before dawn. It lasts about 15 minutes as they fly around their territorial boundaries. While monitoring my 125 boxes I have been amazed at the many different sounds they make. There is a particular song just before mating for example.
Susan Bulger
Fullerton, CA
From: Robert Barron [mailto:rebarron"at"gmail.com] I haven't had the pleasure of being located where I've been able to help western or mountain bluebirds, but a few friends of mine from the west couldn't get over the constant dawn to dusk vocalizations of EABL'S when they have come east to visit. Rob Barron |
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