ML610363553
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Observation details
This is a strange song. My first thought was a White-eyed Vireo, but that didn't match entirely. I solicited opinions and the best analysis I got was from Matt Hunter who wrote: My thoughts go like this: Although at first listen of the non-amplified song my first impression was Fox Sparrow (FOSP) because of the mix of clear and buzzy notes, it has too many warbly notes (e.g. the M and N and W shapes in the spectrogram) and not enough sharper clearer repeated single notes for a FOSP of any stripe. So I'm tossing that one. Because of the variability and liquidity of the song (for the most part) it does have a resemblance to a short Townsend's Solitaire (TOSO) song, but in the amplified file I can hear and see more clearly some things that I think eliminate that species as well. First, it has the beginning buzzy slur and an ending sharp even-pitch buzz/trill, which are not part of any TOSO songs I've heard or seen, whereas it is fairly common for CAFI to end with some sort of single even-pitch note or buzz. Second, it's not quite as variable and random in the various shapes and patterns (visually and aurally)--within each bout and among the bouts--as is typical for TOSO. Although the second bout is more difficult to hear and see, it does at least start identical to the first bout. This consistency is not typical for TOSO (almost every bout is different), but more typical for CAFI. Finally, The fact that it has a mix of sounds that in total don't match anything exactly, but seems to have elements of several species, suggests a mimicking or partly mimicking song of the CAFI. In support of this possibility are 1) The main body of the song is very similar to CAFI, though could be influenced by some mimicry. 2) At least the first half of the song is repeated very consistently in the second bout of the song (it kind of fades out after that). 3) The beginning and ending I think are mimicked sounds of something like a vireo (beginning) and perhaps a towhee (ending buzz). Mimicking is fairly common in CAFI. 3) It is pretty common for CAFI mimic songs and even some regular songs to end in a single, even-pitch, clear or buzzy note, as this one does. Since the song starts with a fairly strong vireo-like slur and has some subsequent chaotic notes, I can see the resemblance to some non-Oregon vireos, but I think the lack of match to one of the vireo species makes it likely that we're dealing with a more local species doing something odd, or oddly in character, haha. My guess would be a Cassin's Finch part mimic song. But since I've never heard anything exactly like it, and don't find any recordings exactly like it, ... it's just a best guess. Maybe it will still be there and you can let us all know! :-)
Technical information
- Recorder
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- Original file size
- 8.55 MB