ML273308261
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- Age
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Media notes
Possibly a peep?
Observation details
1 NFC. I was asleep when this bird was recorded. It was detected automatically in the sound file using Vesper, available at https://github.com/HaroldMills/Vesper. I initially thought it was a peep, or a burry thrush call. However, the raspy nature, the downwards slope, and the frequency don't match a thrush. I asked around on the NFC facebook group, and noticed another Dunlin recording from the previous night in Ohio that matched this recording. Another experienced NFC birder agreed that this sounds like a Dunlin when I suggested it, on the group. Dunlin's give a flight call that is normally level or slightly downward sloping, with a raspy nature, from around 2-4kHz in frequency, lasting 100-300mS. It is often given singly. The nocturnal flight call of the Dunlin is not described in the literature, but there are a dozen sources I collected the mention the flight call, and it seems to me to be the most likely NFC call, especially as some other papers that mention Dunlin and NFCs don't mention a strange call for it. This particular call is given singly, is 310mS in length, monophonic, sloping from 4kHz to 3kHz in frequency, with a raspy quality caused by some noise around .5-1kHz from the main band. Published sources mention five other birds as possibly sounding like the Dunlin: Black Tern, Wilson's Plover, Red Phalarope, Western Sandpiper, and Eastern Bluebird. The first's grate call is polyphonic and distributed across a band from 1-8kHz, often given in altercations. I think this is unlikely to have been the call recorded. Wilson's Plover aren't here. Red Phalarope doesn't match for shape, and should be polyphonic. Western Sandpipers are normally above 5kHz. The Eastern Bluebird doesn't give an NFC like this call, but rather a gently whistled two-parted call. I can't think of another similar sounding bird. I've written up my research on Dunlin, here: https://birdinginvermont.com/nfc-species/dunl This is the second presumed record of this bird in Washington County.
Technical information
- Recorder
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 687.52 KB