Thanks to Denis, from whom I always learn something. I like the term,
"whisper songs." Those autumnal Song sparrow songs are a treasure,
part of the poignancy of the season. I'm always happy to hear them again
and I'm glad you're hearing them, too, Carol.
Lynn
Anacortes
On Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 5:54 PM Dennis Paulson via Tweeters <
tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:
>
Carol, a lot of songbirds have what are often called "subsongs," similar
>
or even not so similar to their normal songs, that they sing during winter.
>
Some of our resident birds like Song Sparrows and Bewick's Wrens maintain
>
winter territories and sometime sing a variety of songs, with more variety
>
than their full, typical songs when spring comes and hormone levels rise.
>
>
First-year birds may sing during the winter too with songs different from
>
those of the adults.
>
>
These songs are often called "whisper songs," but some people distinguish
>
the two, reserving "whisper song" for full songs given by male birds in the
>
breeding season but given very quietly.
>
>
And Black-capped Chickadees have a great repertoire of vocalizations. You
>
can check the sections on vocalizations in the species accounts in Bird of
>
the World Online, and you can get a free membership for that if you are a
>
member of the Washington Ornithological Society.
>
>
Dennis Paulson
>
Seattle
>
>
> On Sep 17, 2024, at 3:46 PM, Tom and Carol Stoner via Tweeters <
>
tweeters at u.washington.edu> wrote:
>
>
>
> Do bird songs/calls change with the season? maturity of the bird?
>
hormone levels?
>
>
>
> I ask because for the last month I've heard unusual bird sounds. Song
>
sparrows in our dense hedge travel along softly singing to themselves. I
>
tracked down a skulky bird in a brushy area making an odd twittering call
>
that finally contained a couple "dee dee" notes before I saw the B-C
>
Chickadee. Any thoughts?
>
>
>
> Carol Stoner
>
> West Seattle
>
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>
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--
Lynn Wohlers
Blogging at Bluebrightly <
https://bluebrightly.com/>
Photography on Flickr <
https://www.flickr.com/photos/lynnwohlers/>
And at Lynn Wohlers.com <
http://lynn-wohlers.artistwebsites.com>