Hi Tweets,

Bob Boekelheide writes:

>I, too, am curious about this, as others on Tweeters occasionally report
>"Eastern Rufous-sided Towhees" in western Washington, apparently based on
>the lack of back spotting.
(snip)
>I'm skeptical that the mere paucity of spotting means that the bird is an
>eastern Rufous-sided, etc.
(snip)
>Are there voice differences between the Rufous-sided and Spotted? Female
>Rufous-sideds would obviously be different, but not necessarily males.
>Any suggestions?

Yes, Bob, listen to a Bewick's Wren Thyromanes bewickii singing a classic
Bewick's song: that's sometimes virtually identical to the
'drink-your-teeeeeea' of the eastern species and totally unlike the western;
also the local's whiny call note sounds like an exasperated 'Harryyyy!!' as
in 'Harrryyyyy! If you don't hurry we're gonna be late!', different to the
eastern 'chwink' or 'zwink'.

Michael Price
Vancouver BC Canada
mprice at mindlink.net

"She's psychic....we've decided to find it charming."
--Frasier