Herb wrote -

> For this review I
> compared Bewick's Wren and Ruby-crowned Kinglet on each since these two species
> have considerable variability from bird to bird and probably location to
> location. Indeed, it's sometimes hard to tell that a Bewick's Wren from
> different birds in the field is the same species, so hearing the variations on
> the theme really helps.

Indeed. Here in c. B.C., there are two main Ruby-crowned Kinglet song types.
Each type is just as likely to be heard anywhere in the area, i.e. there does
not seem to be one dominant type. The one in my yard goes somethng like:

see-see-see-see,yr-yr-yr,chubby-chubby-CHEEKS!,chubby-chubby-CHEEKS!

with the "see"s high and sibilant, the "yr"s lower and louder, and the
"chubby-chubby-CHEEKS" combo very loud as is typical of the species. There is
a bit of individual variation but never wandering far from the main pattern.
Always find it a blast when the singer gets "stuck in neutral" and repeats
the "yr-yr-yr,,yr-yr-yr-yr-yr,,yr-yr-yr-yr-yr-yr-,,yr-yr-,yr-yr....."
until one wants to find the little buggar and shake it to end its misery.

- Jack




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