Here in Colorado, we have both the “Rocky Mountain” and “Eastern” forms of the White-breasted Nuthatch, and I’ve heard a couple of people proclaim that any bird giving a rapid-fire series of calls is a Rocky Mountain individual, while any bird giving a single “yank” note is an Eastern. Unfortunately, it’s more complicated than that.
Birders have known for a number of years now that White-breasted Nuthatches sort out into three distinct vocal groups in North America: Pacific, Rocky Mountain, and Eastern. However, with the exception of field guides, the ornithological literature has been silent on this point. Thus, starting with this post, I’m going to start exploring these vocal differences in some depth.
I recommend heading over to RMBO’s audio quiz before the 15th of November…their fourth installment is a good one.
Well, the cycle is complete: Lesson Six on Polyphony is up.
While going through the Macaulay Library’s collection of Common Nighthawk vocalizations, I came upon something strange: a recording of what might be a hybrid Common x Antillean Nighthawk from south Florida.
During the two weeks I spent walking around in the White River National Wildlife Refuge in 2006, I had many spectacular close-up encounters with wildlife, but the most amazing was with a male Prothonotary Warbler.
I’ve finally posted Lesson Five on Nasality. It’s a bit of a doozy, but I’m proud of it.
I have a confession to make.
It was a wet and foggy day in April. I was standing in a damp little nook in dense woods, long before the first leaves would even think about opening, weeks before most migrating birds would get within a thousand miles of southeast South Dakota, listening to a cascade of musical notes that seemed like it would never end. It was echoing off the trees and the mossy banks, coming from somewhere tantalizingly close — but from exactly where, I couldn’t for the life of me figure out.
The American Ornithologists’ Union Checklist Committee recently updated its slate of taxonomic proposals. Lots of exciting stuff here, including proposed species status for our old friend, the South Hills Crossbill, and a split of Western Scrub-Jay. The proposed split I want to focus on today, though, is one that’s long in coming, and quite likely to pass, in my opinion: the split of Winter Wren.