Ken

Here is an adequate description to help you with the vocalizations for the
three birds you enquired about.

I have taken this from the "Bird identification in the Pacific northwest"

You may also get this panflet at this link,



http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw/pubs/gtr260



Hope this answers your questions :-)



Regards



Martyn :-)







Black-throated Gray Warbler (BGWA)

T: Two basic types

1. Most common type in Washington is always buzzy, a slow

ZEE-A, ZEE-A, ZEE-A, ZEE-A (-ZEET) or WEE-ZY WEE-ZY

WEE-ZY WEE-ZY (-WEET), rises gradually in pitch, each

phrase a step higher than the last; Hermit and Townsend's

Warblers sometime have rising buzzy songs also, but without

steplike character (FO).

2. Much more rapid, usually buzzy, pattern somewhat variable,

most common type in northwestern California transcribed as

ZEEDLE-ZEEDLE-ZEEDLE-ZEEDLE ZEET-TZEW-ZEET-REW,

the ZEEDLE's very fast, often slurred together. the 4 last notes

longer in duration, more distinct, with up-and-down pattern,

always opens with ZEEDLE's or ZEEDLE's or TEEDLE's,

number and pattern of ending notes variable; difficult to distinguish

from Hermit and Townsend's (FO).

N: 1. A sharp CHIP almost identical to Hermit (FO).

2. A dull CHUT. intermediate between calls of Yellow-rumped and

Townsend's (FO).



Hermit Warbler (HEWA)

T: Pattern and cadence highly variable, closely resembles Blackthroated

Gray and Townsend's Warblers; two general forms most

common, fast and slow.

1. Fast type, mostly buuy, typically with a fast introductory

phrase, an accented note, and two lower ending notes with

clear tone ZEEDLE-ZEEDLE-ZEEDLE-ZEEDLE-ZEET-CHE-CHE

or ZEE-ZEE-ZEE-ZOO-CHUP-CHUP, number of notes in each

part variable, sometimes without middle accented note (FO).

2. Slow type, not as buzzy, WHEETO-WHEETO-WHEETOWHEETOWHIT,

slightly faster and accented toward end (FO).

N: A weak, nonbuzzy CHIP or TSIP, almost identical to Townsend's

(FO).

16



Townsend's Warbler (TOWA)

T: Three or 4 notes similar in pitch, followed by 2 or more high-pitched

sibilant ones DZEER SZEER DZEER TSEETSEE (P); pattern

variable, high and wheezy (thinner quality than Black-throated Gray

Warbler), often with rising inflection throughout; birds in Washington

sometimes sing a type very similar or identical to hermit's fast type

(FO)

N: CHIT or TSIP (L); almost identical to hermit (FO).

Hermit and Townsend's Warblers (HETO)

These two hybridize commonly in the Cascade Range of southern

Washington. Their songs are usually buzzy, extremely variable, and

indistinguishable in the area of overlap. The fast song type with the clear

2-note ending has been noted as diagnostic of the Hermit Warbler by

some authors, but at least in much of Washington (northern and southern

Cascade Range), the Townsend's Warbler also sings this song type.

Conversely, Hermit Warblers have been seen singing the supposed

Townsend's type that rises throughout. For censusing purposes in areas

of overlap, we have lumped the two species and call them all HETO,

because of the impossibility of identification by song and the extreme

difficulty of seeing them well enough to distinguish hybrids and pure

types (FO)



Martyn Stewart
Bird and Animal Sounds Digitally Recorded at:
http://www.naturesound.org
N47.65543 W121.98428
Redmond. Washington. USA
Make every Garden a wildlife Habitat!

When the animals come to us,
Asking for our help,
Will we know what they are saying?

When the plants speak to us
In their delicate, beautiful language,
Will we be able to answer them?

When the planet herself
Sings to us in our dreams,
Will we be able to wake ourselves, and act?

-Gary Lawless

_____

From: TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu
[mailto:TWEETERS-owner at u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of Ken Wilson
Sent: Tuesday, April 27, 2004 5:57 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Song ID? black-thr gray, Townsends, Hermit



For you warbler experts,

Any suggestions for definitively separating songs of Black-throated Gray,
Townsends, and Hermit Warblers?
Apparently, these species can sing a number of variations. For example, I
thought I knew Townsends ("zeeah zeeah zeet zeet"), and then listened to
Stokes CDs (which presented Townsends songs that were different from the
ones I knew).

I just returned to the NW from eight years living in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
I am definitely rusty!

Thanks for your help,

Ken Wilson
Port Townsend

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