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Several recent genetic studies have provided evidence that four groups of Fox Sparrows have separate evolutionary histories and may deserve species rank. Some differences in call notes between the groups may have bearing on their identification and taxonomy. [Read more] Some spectrograms match human calligraphy flourish-for-flourish in intricacy, tension, balance, and grace. [Read more] Andrew May, an associate professor of music at the University of North Texas, has composed a piece of avant-garde classical music called “Recyclers” that centers on a recording of a Northern Mockingbird that I made in Big Bend National Park in 2007. [Read more] A paper that I wrote with Clint Francis, published this month in the Wilson Journal of Ornithology, shows that one isolated population of Yellow-eyed Juncos sings quite differently from its relatives in mainland Mexico. [Read more] Last week I had the pleasure of attending the 2011 Western Field Ornithologists’ Conference in Sierra Vista, Arizona, where the highlight of my trip was the opportunity to view and record huge numbers of hummingbirds. It only took me a short time to learn their vocalizations and arm myself with an identification tool of enormous power. [Read more] When it comes to sounds, the White-crowned Manakin (Pipra pipra) isn’t the most interesting of the family. Its displays are mundane compared to, say, Long-tailed Manakin. And the mechanical sounds made are limited and mostly simple. But it does appear to have a plethora of distinct vocal types that may well correspond to different species, despite the fact that they all look nearly or completely identical to each other in plumage. [Read more] On May 8th, 2011, Andrew Davis and Tim Davis found a Rufous-collared Sparrow, a Central and South American species, in Georgetown, Colorado. When I heard reports that the Georgetown sparrow was singing loudly and often, I immediately wondered whether it might be possible to use its song dialects to pinpoint its birthplace. [Read more] Guest post today by Walter Szeliga, who is starting to turn his audio recorder on some very interesting problems of identification and taxonomy. [Read more] On my first trip to northern Coos County, New Hampshire (in 2008), I heard a very high pitched, very fast trill that I did not recognize. Upon tracking it down I was rather surprised to see it was a singing Blackpoll Warbler. [Read more] In 1989, the American Ornithologists’ Union split the Western Flycatcher into two species: Pacific-slope Flycatcher and Cordilleran Flycatcher. The conventional wisdom is that they are impossible to identify by plumage or structure, even in the hand. Voice is the only field mark. However, the situation with their vocalizations is quite messy, and worthy of an in-depth examination. [Read more] |
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