Subject: Re: Unusual B-c Chickadee song
Date: Sep 8 17:20:23 1997
From: Michael Price - mprice at mindlink.bc.ca


Hi Tweets,

Paul Hess asks:

>I've read most of the extensive literature on chickadee vocalizations and
>have not seen a string as long as 3 to 6 "bee" notes described. Have I
>missed something that anyone knows about?

Mr. Hess's correspondent doesn't describe the quality of the calls (assuming
the songs are actual territorial songs and not the 'dee-dee-dee' calls which
can certainly run on in long series), or time of the year heard, or
circumstances, but two possibilities arise: a distress or alarm call in
presence of a threat; or how about juvenile males (hoarsely) trying out the
call when establishing heirarchy among themselves while still in the family
group?

>>My correspondent reports that local chickadees near Haliburton in
>>southeastern Ontario, Canada, sing "fee-bee" type songs varying from 2 to 6
>>"bees" and sometimes without the initial "fee." The most common type
>>consists of 3 "bees," and the even longer "bee" strings are frequently
>>heard. Also unusual is that the "fee" and "bees" are on the same pitch, not
>>with the typical lower-pitched "bee".
>>Carolina Chickadees (P. carolinensis) are well known for diverse local and
>>regional song dialects. However, Black-capped away from the two species'
>>contact zone are considered remarkably conventional in song type throughout
>>their range. Apart from slight variations reported in the northwest

"slight variations reported in the northwest" indeed! '-) The first Puget
Sound BCCH I ever heard had me looking high and low for a mid-summer
Golden-crowned Sparrow with a weird song!

>and on
>>Martha's Vineyard, typical Black-capped songs are described as limited to
>>"fee-bee", "fee-bee-bee", and "fee-bee-ee" -- the last with a barely
>>perceptible modulation amid the "bee" note.

Here in Vancouver BC, the BCCH song (not call) can be very accurately
reproduced in pitch and cadence by saying the word 'cheeseburger'.

Another possibility: that a new Black-capped Chickadee (BBCH) dialect of
territorial song arising in the Haliburton region of Ontario.

Michael Price The Sleep of Reason Gives Birth to Monsters
Vancouver BC Canada -Goya
mprice at mindlink.net