8 replies to this topic

[syncrasy]

Heard coming from a small cluster of four deciduous and evergreen trees near a small river. Unfortunately I didn't get a recording or see the bird (I looked for 30 minutes). The call started with an extremely loud, explosive ascending whistle ("THREEP" or "CREEP") followed by a descending tremelo ("bouncing ball") lasting about 3-4 seconds. The entire call (whistle+bouncing ball) was repeated four times, about 10 seconds apart.

The habitat and tremelo portion of the call are consistent with E. Screech-Owl, but I can't find any recordings that include the explosive whistle, only the whinny and tremolo. My bird's whistle was not a whinny. It was short (1/2 sec) and extremely loud (almost hurting my ear drums). I found an article that mentions an "explosive" intruder call, so I suspect that might be what I heard. Any ideas? E. Screech Owl or something else? Can anyone point me to an audio clip of the E. Screech-Owl's intruder call?

[psweet]

From just a description, calls can be pretty tough, so this isn't a firm ID, but how about Great Crested Flycatcher?

[syncrasy]

Thanks for the idea. I just listened to all the Cornell clips for GC Flycatcatcher. While the "wheep" is similar to my bird's explosive whistle note, the GCF is much thinner, almost delicate by comparison. My bird's explosive whistle is more muscular, like a fuller version of an E. Towhee's ascending "chewink" call note, sung into a mic amplified through a Marshall stack. Also, and as far as I can tell, the GCF doesn't have the descending "bouncing ball" tremelo in its repertoire. And I think I probably would have seen the GCF flying away, whereas I assume an owl would just hunker down and hide.

So, I'm still leaning toward E S-Owl. I found another Web article that says that E S-Owl will give the intruder call in response to encroaching humans, and the descending "bouncing ball" tremolo is more typical of the intruder vocalization (vs. the same-pitch tremelo for normal calls).

[psweet]

Sounds like you're probably right.

[Liam]

It could be an Eastern Towhee. Listen to recording no. 15 on this link: http://xeno-canto.or...ecies_nr=drvuxr

[syncrasy]

It could be an Eastern Towhee. Listen to recording no. 15 on this link: http://xeno-canto.or...ecies_nr=drvuxr

Thanks, Liam. I don't see a clip no. "15". The first clip "XC17150" does include a "bouncing ball" sound that is similar to my bird (although higher pitched), but none of the opening notes in any of the clips that I sampled matches my bird's explosive initial whistle. It really scared the heck out of me. I not sure that a Passerine could have generated such a loud, strong note.

[Liam]

Thanks, Liam. I don't see a clip no. "15". The first clip "XC17150" does include a "bouncing ball" sound that is similar to my bird (although higher pitched), but none of the opening notes in any of the clips that I sampled matches my bird's explosive initial whistle. It really scared the heck out of me. I not sure that a Passerine could have generated such a loud, strong note.

It doesn't really have a number, but the code is "XC33778".

[syncrasy]

It doesn't really have a number, but the code is "XC33778".

Ah, Okay. No, that's not what I heard. That's an unusual, but still a sweet, delicate Towhee trill. My bird's whistle was frighteningly loud and sharp, followed by a lower-pitched, descending, slow-motion tremolo. I found some E. Screech-Owl clips online that match the descending tremolo, but none includes the scary whistle.

[Liam]

If it matches Screech-Owl, then I'm sure you could be correect. Juvenile birds tend to make funny screech noises (and they are called Screech-owls for a reason ).