Nancy,

Here is a brief comparison of four similar sounding species, though *I* don't
think of the warbler's song as being weak or colorless:

Orange-crowned Warbler: weak, colorless, changes in pitch and volume, drops off
at end

Spotted Towhee: musical, trails off at end like a sigh, fast, sometimes single
chip preceding

Chipping Sparrow: unmusical, fast, no change in pitch, volume or speed

Dark-eyed Junco: muslical, slower than above, no change in pitch, volume or
speed; somewhat tinny [sometimes sounds electrical - LMG]

Source: Training Guide for Bird Identification in Pacific Northwest Douglas-Fir
Forests, compiled by Carey et al., Pacific Northwest Research Station, Forest
Service, 1990. 28p. Report No. PNW-GTR-260.

Lisa Godina
Lacey, WA
mailto: LMGodina at reachone.com