Hi Tweets,

Rob Saecker writes:

>could you elaborate on that? At the risk of a scolding from Deb Beutler,
>I've never heard a robin make any sound resembling the 'peeer' of a pewee,
>and I don't know them to be particularly good mimics either. So an
>explanation would be appreciated.

(whack!) That's the sound of open hand hitting forehead, Rob. As in 'of
*course*.' An American Robin Turdus migratorius can and *does* make a sound
like that. It's usually but not always a bit thinner but nearly always quite
similar in phrasing, duration and pitch. Other times, it might suggest a
call from a quiet Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum. The bird utters it
closemouthed, and it can be fiendishly difficult to locate.

Which is the point of it. Normally, a robin will give it as a
warning/distraction when there's a predator or other potential threat in the
near vicinity of the nest, but I've heard it several times this winter. Duh.
Five gets ya ten that's what it was, Rob.

Michael Price A brave world, Sir,
Vancouver BC Canada full of religion, knavery and change;
mprice at mindlink.net we shall shortly see better days.
Aphra Behn (1640-1689)