Hugh J. wrote:

>On about three recent birding trips we have heard a "suwheet" or close
>variation a number of times. We have never been able to see the bird to
>identify it. The birders have been evenly divided as to whether it is a
>Hutton's Vireo or Pacific-slope Flycatcher.
>
>Can anyone out there in "Tweeters Land" give some definitive info that will
>help to determine which bird it is. Is there a distinctive difference in
>their calls that can be easily detected, such as frequency of call, different
>inflections, etc.? Are you apt to find both in the same habitat or does each
>prefer a specific habitat? We heard the birds in a mixed, deciduous and
>conifer, woods adjacent to more or less open areas.

The pitch of a Hutton's Vireo (HUVI) song is at least a fifth lower than that of
a Pacific-slope Flycatcher (PSFL). HUVI songs tend to have that monotonous
quality of many vireos and can go on and on for quite a while. Since they are
rather slow-moving birds, you can usually pinpoint the vireo's location easily.
Empids like PSFL tend to be more active than vireos so the song should move
around more. PSFL can also sing frequently, but I would think that this time of
year they should be less vocal than HUVI. Try to get a glimpse of the bird. No
mistaking them if seen well.

- Jack
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*Jack Bowling *
*Prince George, BC *
*jcbowling at mindlink.bc.ca *
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