ML555626201
Contributor
Date
Location
- Age
- Not specified
- Sex
- Not specified
- Sounds
- Flight call
- Playback
- Not specified
Observation details
Was randomly putting something in my car when I heard a very interesting call from above. I looked up, and saw a minima Cackling Goose sized bird flying north, flapping steadily with pretty strong wingbeats. This was only with the naked eye, but I could see the bird decently well all things considered. It called a few more times, and then began heading east. I was able to get a recording which I attached here. It sounded like a loud “Ker-wheeeee”. I’m a bit rusty on my large shorebird vocalizations, but I believe the flight calls best match a Long-billed Curlew. That said, I’m open to feedback about potential better candidates. Edit (5/4/23): It’s been brought to my attention that the flight call in the recording sounds similar to a Black-bellied Plover. I do agree that this is the case, but still feel that the bird I saw, and recorded, is a LBCU. In addition to the bird’s larger looking size in flight, it looked somewhat warm and pale below. It was hard to see, but I don't remember seeing any blackish areas on the underparts or wings. The next thing that seemed off for a BBPL was the rate it was flying at and flight style. This bird had pretty strong wingbeats, but they were slightly labored and not what I would call fast. According to BOTW, Black-bellied Plovers fly at a normal pace of four beats per second! Although it was a bit stormy out, the bird I saw was probably only averaging 1-2 beats per second I'd wager. And as for the vocalizations, I can find examples of BBPL that sound remarkably similar to what I was hearing. That said, it's hard to put into words, but both in the field and now here, I think what I heard sounds better for a LBCU, as that's where my mind initially went to when I heard it (Whimbrel/Long-billed Curlew).
Technical information
- Recorder
- Microphone
- Accessories
- Original file size
- 85.8 KB